MARS PHOENIX

So, what does Mars Phoenix have to do with Sherborn planning issues? Well, I suppose it has nothing to do with it. However, as a lifelong space aficinado (and who still has not quite given up on the idea of someday going into space), I am a little bit unsettled about a potential moral or philosophical question. Of course, it is my expectation that Mars will eventually become a home to humans. The issue that unsettles me is how would the discovery of life on Mars affect the decision to populate it with humans.

As you may know, preliminary results of soil tests conducted by Mars Phoenix have found soil chemistry that has been described as "similar to what you might find in your back yard" and with the potential for supporting life. I have not yet heard that there has been confirmation of ice just below the surface, but I will assume that that is the case.

If no life is ever found, my assumption is that it would make any decision to establish Martian settlements (I won't call them "colonies") an easy one. With no life to affect, we have free rein to build bases, cities, industry, etc.(and, of course, we will need planners in that effort!), as well as to induce global warming and alter the atmosphere to make it Earth-like and to facilitate significant develpment.

However, suppose life IS found. Even if it is only microscopic life, do we need to respect it? Would that mean that we could not alter the climate if it would have a deleterious impact on native life forms, however primitive? Would we be depriving Martian life the opportunity to spread and evolve as it did on Earth even though that may take a billion years or more? Or would we need to confine our settlements to underground facilities or enclosed facilities that limit Earth-like conditions to the built space only leaving the existing biosphere intact to develop on its own?