What is the Final Conclusion about Life on Mars?
Luckily, there was one additional experiment which really convinced
scientists life was not present in the soil samples taken by the Viking
Landers.
Mass Spectrometer
This instrument measured the abundance of organic molecules in the
soil samples. None were found. This is more startling than
expected in a lifeless planet. Incoming meteorites carry with them
organic molecules, but even these organics are missing! The
soil and atmosphere is so incredibly oxidizing, it simply
destroys any organic compounds exposed to it. Conclusion:
No Life on the surface of Mars.
But, what about `pre-historic' life on Mars? What about
DEEP in the Mars soil? Valles Marineris is a 10 km deep
canyon! Can we count on Future Missions to
look there? It wouldn't appear so:
2001 Mars Odyssey
Arrived at Mars
in October, 2001. An orbiting spacecraft designed to determine
the composition of the planet, detect water and shallow buried
ice, and study the radiation environment. This mission does not
have a lander.
Mars Express
June 2003 Launch date. The orbiter will explore the atmosphere
and surface of Mars, but it will also have a lander, called
Beagle 2. Beagle 2 will perform exobiology and
geochemical experiments on the surface, however it won't be
capable of digging deep.
Mars Exploration Rovers
NASA is sending two powerful new rovers in Summer 2003.
They will have far greater mobility than the Pathfinder rover,
trekking up to 100 meters a day. The rovers will be identical,
but land on different parts of Mars. They should be able to
roam the surface for nearly an (Earth) year. It does not
appear that they will be doing any deep digging either!