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Another Space Probe Lands On Mars. What Is The Point?

Here we go again. Another space probe touches down on Mars and everyone gets all excited about the possibility of finding signs of life on the Red Planet. The Phoenix space probe has already sent back photographs of the barren surface of the planet, covered with rocks and pebbles, but that did not seem to dampen the hopes of NASA scientists at mission control and of the many enthusiasts who get all excited at every mention of life, but not as we know it. The mere sight of cracks and criss-crossed lines on the surface was enough for some to deduct that there must be ice or even water beneath the surface and that could only mean one thing – there is bound to be some sort of life or remnants of life or chemical components of life on Mars. All will be revealed in the next few weeks, we are told by the jubilant scientists.      

But guess what? I am not at all convinced that there is anything up there. We had the same excitement in the 1960s about the moon and possible remnants of life on it. There were enthusiasts then who were saying that they had seen mysterious movements on the moon through their telescopes and that cracks and lines on the surface had convinced them that there could be ice and even water there. Some scientists were even predicting that remnants of living creatures would be found on the moon. We could learn so much about the universe and our own planet by studying the moon and sending men up there, they were saying. And, of course, everyone was nodding and smiling and hoping that other civilisations had left messages on the moon and so that we could soon find out that we were not alone in the universe.

After several Apollo missions though all we were left with were rocks. Big rocks, small rocks and pebbles that told us nothing that we did not know already: that the moon had never been inhabited by anyone and no one ever visited it before us because there was nothing much to do there anyway. It was a major disappointment for all the keen enthusiasts of space exploration and, especially, for the fans of Star Trek many of whom were hoping to use their knowledge of the language spoken by that popular Vulcan, Mr Spock, to communicate with the aliens. They had no other choice, though, but to hope that Mars would turn out to be a better bet than the moon.

But the signs were not good. Since the 1970s when NASA had launched its Viking probes and up to now no signs of any life had been registered on Mars. None at all. More than half of the space missions actually ended in nothing with the space probes simply disappearing into nowhere, either missing the planet or burning on entry. The most recent one was Beagle 2, the British space probe that had disappeared without trace after separating from the mother ship.

   What makes this last space mission to Mars a resounding success, we are told, is that the probe has actually reached the surface without breaking up. It has started beaming images of the planet about twenty minutes after touchdown and will even be able to dig holes up to 20 inches deep to look for any trace of water or bacteria.           

   For people who are eagerly expecting to hear sensational news about the discovery of some primitive forms of life I suggest to relax and not to pin their hopes up too high. The temperature in the area where the probe is operating ranges from minus 30 degrees to minus 70 degrees Celsius. And it is not even winter time over there, mind you. As that fine artist, Sir Elton John, sang in his famous song Rocket Man, ‘Mars ain’t the kind of place to raise your kids. In fact, it’s cold as hell.’

   Sir Elton knew, you see. Long before the first probes had arrived on Mars.

   In their hearts the scientists realise, of course, that there is no life on Mars. Absolutely none. And this mission, just like all the previous ones, will end in nothing. But they have to demonstrate enthusiasm and optimism because otherwise who is going to give them the money to keep on searching for other civilizations and sending probes even deeper into space? And do not forget, they have been already promised in principle a permanent base on the moon and a manned flight to Mars. So there is still a lot to play for.

   By the way, this latest mission is not cheap too, costing around $500 million. And considering that the results are not promising to be exciting, that is quite a lot of money to waste. Even though NASA is saying that all that experience in bringing a probe to the surface of Mars in one piece would prove to be invaluable when the first manned mission to Mars will take place. You see, I told you: these guys are looking ahead already. Life or no life on Mars, they want to have as much fun as they can get. 

Now you may ask me: why are you so sceptical about space exploration? Would you not want to find out about other planets and other civilisations?  And my answer to that would be: Sure, I am not against satisfying man’s natural curiosity to study the universe and boldly go where no one has gone before. But let’s first sort out the mess on our own planet. Let’s stop polluting it and wiping out the wild life. Let us not have any children dying of hunger and diseases in their thousands every day. Let us devise a system that would alert us to natural disasters and let’s have a rapid deployment task force that could reach the area affected by these disasters and save lives there. Let’s at least learn to behave like human beings and not kill each other and wage wars against other nations on false pretences. And then maybe, just maybe, I’ll agree to spend all that money on looking for other civilisations. But not before then. Because it is just a waste of money, to be quite honest, when you still have such a mess on your own planet.    

– End –

 

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