Detecting life on Mars may be 'impossible' with current NASA rovers, new study warns

[admin]

Research in Chile's Atacama Desert suggests that the science instruments on the Red Planet aren't capable of detecting signs of long-dead microbial life.

Detecting life on Mars may be 'impossible' with current NASA rovers, new study warns : Read more

 

[Zubenelgenubi]

NOT buying that; and several "more" visits to Mars seems "over-the-top", financially, but it "may" keep a group of scientists and others employed far into the foreseeable future!!

 

[Dave_dwr]

Research in Chile's Atacama Desert suggests that the science instruments on the Red Planet aren't capable of detecting signs of long-dead microbial life.

Detecting life on Mars may be 'impossible' with current NASA rovers, new study warns : Read more

It's always been my understanding that current Mars rovers are not designed for an in-depth assessment of possible signs of life. They are designed to locate the best possible locations on the surface for doing such an in-depth search, such as areas with evidence for flowing water and the presence of minerals that are found in the midst of living ecosystems. Once good candidate locations are found, rovers or perhaps human expeditions will be sent to examine these locations in great detail for the past/current presence of life.