Water has been determined to be in the soil of Mars and fairly easily rendered from it.
http://news.yahoo.com/curiosity-rover-makes-big-water-discovery-mars-dirt-180441890.html
That discovery makes it easier to colonize the planet. Now if they can dig down and fine soil capable of supporting plants.
Yeah the soil has a high amount of Perchlorate:
http://www.ask.com/wiki/Perchlorate?o=2801&qsrc=999&ad=doubleDown&an=apn&ap=ask.com
Now just need microbes to breakdown the Perchlorate to usable nitrates for higher plant life other than mosses.
The biggest can of worms comes if they dig down and find some soil that has native microbes.
What kind of microbes would be needed? Is it something that could be grown in a specialized, set up environment once anyone gets there?
What would happen if Martian microbes were to be found-other then the "holy crap, we found life on Mars" type of happening?
Sometimes I wonder if any "special" minerals/resources have been found there that is being kept classified for "We found it first" purposes.
The place is so much alike Earth, there has got to be precious minerals out the wazoo out there. And hopefully more Rare Earth Minerals so we can keep in dumb smart phones for perpetuity.
What kind of microbes would be needed? Is it something that could be grown in a specialized, set up environment once anyone gets there
What would happen if Martian microbes were to be found-other then the "holy crap, we found life on Mars" type of happening?
The place is so much alike Earth, there has got to be precious minerals out the wazoo out there. And hopefully more Rare Earth Minerals so we can keep in dumb smart phones for perpetuity.
This guy says it is possible to get there very soon, WITH items that are off the shelf. Nothing new needs to be built.
Not saying he is right-what would I know anyhow? It is interesting though:
http://www.space.com/23208-existing-tech-can-take-humans-to-mars.html
Sci-Fi got us into space, why not to other planets.
Have you seen the state of Sci-Fi today? It couldn't even get us to the corner liquor store, let alone into space. (This is a shame cuz I could really use a ride to the liquor store. )
Keep watching Defiance. It'll eventually get you to the corner liquor store.
Well, a huge portion of their population doesn't have any type of toilet or "cat hole" even to crap in, but they are sending probes to Mars.
I am thinking it is just advert for selling "space rides" to the major space players.
http://news.yahoo.com/indias-mars-mission-enters-second-stage-outpaces-space-033933920--finance.html