Contamination, planetary protection and the search for life on Mars
Thursday, October 1, 2015 - 08:20
in Astronomy & Space
It has been more than 400 years since Galileo put humankind in its right place in the solar system. By looking at how Jupiter's moons revolve about the gas giant, he came to the conclusion that Earth was not at the centre but one of many planets revolving around the sun. Similarly, recent evidence that water is likely to flow on Mars means facing the possibility that Earth is not the only planet in the solar system to harbour life.