Comments on: How Future Missions Could Detect Organisms Inside Rocks on Mars http://www.universetoday.com/2008/07/18/how-future-missions-could-detect-organisms-inside-rocks-on-mars/ Space and astronomy news Sun, 8 Nov 2009 08:15:54 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Astrofiend http://www.universetoday.com/2008/07/18/how-future-missions-could-detect-organisms-inside-rocks-on-mars/comment-page-1/#comment-26555 Astrofiend Mon, 21 Jul 2008 00:15:12 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/?p=15656#comment-26555 Surely ChemCam ( a Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy system) on the Mars Science Laboratory will have, at least, significant overlap in terms of scientific capability with this instrument, no? I'm fully aware that the measurement being made is completely different, but when it comes down to it they are both designed to gauge the elemental and mineralogical composition of rocks such as those mentioned in the article... I guess this method would be far better able to differentiate between different isotopes of the various substances detected than a LIBS, but still... Surely ChemCam ( a Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy system) on the Mars Science Laboratory will have, at least, significant overlap in terms of scientific capability with this instrument, no?

I'm fully aware that the measurement being made is completely different, but when it comes down to it they are both designed to gauge the elemental and mineralogical composition of rocks such as those mentioned in the article…

I guess this method would be far better able to differentiate between different isotopes of the various substances detected than a LIBS, but still…

]]> By: TD http://www.universetoday.com/2008/07/18/how-future-missions-could-detect-organisms-inside-rocks-on-mars/comment-page-1/#comment-26421 TD Fri, 18 Jul 2008 23:47:58 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/?p=15656#comment-26421 I'd say look inside the "Blueberries" that Opportunity found first. If there's microbes there, that might explain the seasonal color/shade change that Slipher observed, along with Sinton's spectrographic observations and Dollfus' seasonal polarization change. According to a senior researcher, they cannot say whether the "blueberries" contain life or not based on Opportunity's instruments.....it's time to find out! Yes - it's time for an "Imminent Discovery" Good Luck Phoenix! I'd say look inside the "Blueberries" that Opportunity found first. If there's microbes there, that might explain the seasonal color/shade change that Slipher observed, along with Sinton's spectrographic observations and Dollfus' seasonal polarization change. According to a senior researcher, they cannot say whether the "blueberries" contain life or not based on Opportunity's instruments…..it's time to find out! Yes – it's time for an "Imminent Discovery"

Good Luck Phoenix!

]]>