2 ms·
I was thinking the same thing, and then I also thought - if the long term plans are colonization, is sterilization and non-contamination viable, or even desirab
by binarymax 2y ago
I was thinking the same thing, and then I also thought - if the long term plans are colonization, is sterilization and non-contamination viable, or even desirable?
While the missions remain scientific I absolutely agree contamination must be avoided. But as soon as we cross into the colony phase, wouldn’t that restriction just make things harder?
- multimoon 2y agoIf we’re into the colonization phase in the future we’ll be intentionally contaminating the planet trying to grow crops, so yes we’d be past that as a point of consideration.
- ryanmcbride 2y agosure but in the meantime, while we're still just studying, best to keep the petri dish uncontaminated
- ordu 2y ago> But as soon as we cross into the colony phase, wouldn’t that restriction just make things harder? I think not just harder, because the first colonies will enable scientists to study the pristine environment in more depth, while the colonies itself will be small and costs of a sterilization will be relatively low. So the onset of uncontrolled contamination should probably be delayed until well after the first colony.