4 ms·
How long before someone(s) decide to try to jumpstart Mars terraforming via CubeSat or an equivalent?
by mairon 6y ago
How long before someone(s) decide to try to jumpstart Mars terraforming via CubeSat or an equivalent?
- karmicthreat 6y agoHow would that even work? Just drop some bacteria that can process inorganics on mars?
- joshvm 6y agoTo answer the sibling comment as well. Intentionally contaminating Mars with bacteria from Earth would be an immediate violation of planetary protection guidelines. It's illegal under the Outer Space treaty: Article IX: ... States Parties to the Treaty shall pursue studies of outer space, including the Moon and other celestial bodies, and conduct exploration of them so as to avoid their harmful contamination and also adverse changes in the environment of the Earth resulting from the introduction of extraterrestrial matter and, where necessary, shall adopt appropriate measures for this purpose... Essentially all the major space powers signed this. Though note that militarization is not included (so spy satellites are Kosher), aside from weapons of mass destruction. This is a contentious issue as right now the only way you're getting to Mars is with a national space agency and they get to vet your lander. But sooner or later, companies like Spacex will be able to do it and so far (see Starlink) they've proven to be fairly ignorant in terms of consulting with the research community. The rules for planetary protection are extremely strict because if you want to prove that there was life on Mars, your results are ruined if you accidentally contaminate the landing site. However lots of people think they're too stringent. For example, caves/overhangs would be a great place to set up a colony because there is natural radiation shielding. Of course this is also a prime spot for Martian life, for the same reason, so nobody is allowed to target landers anywhere near those areas. Probably what will happen is we'll designate areas of Mars to be conservation areas where Earth contamination is strictly controlled or prohibited. See, for example, the Antarctic Treaty. There could be lower risk areas like open plains for colonies. I'm sure there are plenty of papers discussing this though.
- DarthGhandi 6y agoEvery probe sent has already broken this treaty. For all the clean rooms and assurances our rovers and probes are completely covered with bacteria. I believe we have a civic duty to spread extremophiles across the solar system. If there is life on Mars it's very likely much the same as our own and distantly related. Gambling on the future of the only known life in the universe to satiate scientific curiosity is not worth it whatsoever.
- richsherwood 6y agoWhile I understand the point of the treaty, do you think it will have any teeth once private companies are able to provide their own infrastructure? Just out of curiosity (due to my own lack of legal knowledge in this area), how is it that a treaty that a) is for another plant, solar system, celebration body etc and b) if I didn’t personally sign or recognize this treaty then how can this treaty apply to me, a citizen of a non-space power?
- lmm 6y agoCountries are held responsible for spacecraft "flying their flag" in the same way as ships, and required to appropriately regulate launches from their territory.
- chopin 6y agoThat worked well for Beirut, though...
- PureParadigm 6y agoWho exactly is going to hold the USA responsible for any violation of that treaty? And if someone tries to, what's stopping the USA from ignoring them?
- csunbird 6y agoExactly. International agreements are just farces :)
- person_of_color 6y agoIs that legal?
- jccooper 6y agoNASA is required to adhere to (self-defined) planetary protection guidelines, but as yet there's no US law against it as it has not previously been considered possible for anyone but the government to be in a position to do so.
- richsherwood 6y agoIs anything illegal in space? Which court does space law answer to?
- Rebelgecko 6y agoUnder the Outer Space Treaty, most of the legal burden is put on whatever nation something belongs to (kinda like the flag for a ship)