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Jo Schaper
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 Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2008 7:07 am Post subject: Water on Mars |
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Everybody today was oohing and aaahing over the 'spirament in which this
sticky white stuff in the Martian soil was discovered to be water ice,
and therefore water. This is just another example of some of the PR
which passes for science these days.
As a child 40 years ago, I learned from reputable sources (NASA) that
there was water on Mars. Spectroscopy said so, as did the ebb and growth
of the Martian icecaps, which were known back then to be a mix of frozen
CO2 and water. (There was something about the growth/shrinkage which did
not lend itself to an entirely CO2 explanation.) I believe there was an
indication of water in some of the data from the Viking series of Mars
probes, which found water, but not life, and yes, that was a big deal
back then.
So...why all the whoopla today? If the spectrum shows sodium, that>s
good enough for me.. I don>t have to go get a sample, refine it and
chase it around on beaker of water until it explodes.
Where are we going wrong in our science education? Or are today>s
scientists such doubting Thomases, they don>t even believe their
instruments? If so, why do they believe the Phoenix instrumentation, but
not that of 35 years ago? |
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Belba Grubb
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| Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2008 7:07 am Post subject: Re: Water on Mars |
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On Jul 31, 10:11 pm, Jo Schaper <jo345sch765a...@s9ocket.net> wrote:
[quote]So...why all the whoopla today?
[/quote]
Because for the last decade or so "news" has become more purely
salesmanship (it always has had somewhat of this function, of course).
You cover a story to sell something, in this case, perhaps the idea
that a manned mission to Mars is worthy of political support and
funding for all the work necessary to realistically mount one.
"Water ice" on another planet makes it sound enough like Earth to make
a mission doable (nobody>s clamoring for a trip to Mercury or Jupiter,
for instance): it seems a good selling point to those who haven>t yet
realized the public is confused by hearing about massive floods and
ancient seas on Mars since the Mariner missions anyway -- and the
mention of traces of waterfalls and ongoing polar ice caps now -- and
is asking exactly the same question you are, Jo, though from a non-
science viewpoint.
So, for those who want to see a manned mission, how else can it be
promoted?
Barb
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"Reporter: A writer who guesses his way to the truth and dispels it
with a tempest of words."
-- Ambrose Bierce |
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Eduard Groenstein
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| Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2008 7:07 am Post subject: Re: Water on Mars |
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Belba Grubb wrote:
[quote]"Water ice" on another planet makes it sound enough like Earth to make
a mission doable (nobody>s clamoring for a trip to Mercury or Jupiter,
for instance): it seems a good selling point to those who haven>t yet
realized the public is confused by hearing about massive floods and
ancient seas on Mars since the Mariner missions anyway -- and the
mention of traces of waterfalls and ongoing polar ice caps now -- and
is asking exactly the same question you are, Jo, though from a non-
science viewpoint.
So, for those who want to see a manned mission, how else can it be
promoted?
[/quote]
There is a significant risk that the Chinese will beat the US to Mars
anyway. This would be a glorious achievement for them.
We all know there isn>t any life on Mars, just some water ice, dust and
rocks. There is nothing of value there, so I say let the Chinese have
it if they want it so badly.
Instead of wasting so much money on a NASA manned flight to Mars, spend
it on *seeding* Mars with organisms from Earth.
-- |
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