Despite the excitement about NASA's discovery of water on Mars, questions now loom over the possibility of contamination on Curiosity rover's report.
According to the article posted by The Guardian, researchers are discussing about Curiosity rover bringing bugs to the red planet.
The report says that the rover has not been disinfected from possible bacteria, which poses a threat to the data it will collect. It also might bring contaminants to the moist areas of Mars with micro-organisms that could still be alive after surviving the trip from Earth aboard the Curiosity rover.
It quotes Andrew Coates, a scientist from the University College London's Mullard Space Science Laboratory, saying, "There will be heated discussions in the next weeks and months about what Curiosity will be allowed to do and whether it can go anywhere near the RSLs."
Scientists are also saying that with the discovery of water on Mars, the exploration now opens a new chapter for study, "This time for the possible presence of microbes and life on Mars," according to DNA India.
With these new updates, the discovery of life on the red planet continues to grow. Private sectors now also express their interest in exploring the prospect of interplanetary travel.
The Netherlands-based Mars One is said to be planning to launch its first manned mission to space in 2026. Although NASA still doubts the likelihood of its success, Mars One has been continuously recruiting possible candidates to send on the said mission.
Virgin Galactic also joined the bandwagon by continuing with its projects and even has a current update on the milestones that their human spaceflight program has accomplished.
NASA, on the other hand, continues to believe that this eagerness for space discovery and interest about updates regarding space explorations has resulted in a renewed vigor for the people involved.
"It seems that the more we study Mars, the more we learn how life could be supported and where there are resources to support life in the future," NASA says in a statement.
