Was there life on Mars? Is the answer in "finding water" on the Red Planet?
A successful landing of the mars rover is a tiny part of what is considered a successful mission to the distant planet. Finding water - even a trace - would make NASA scientists huddle and jump even higher.
Was there life on mars? In answering the question depends greatly on the chance of finding water, or even enough evidence that there was water, on the planet.
The Mars Water Situation
Scientists are determined to find the Mars water "fragments"; at least a trace. Here is how a NASA scientist described the planet's surface, though:
"Mars' atmosphere consists largely of carbon dioxide, with a
typical surface pressure of about .01 Earth atmospheres, and surface
temperatures that may reach 25°C on the equator in mid-summer, but are
generally much colder. At these pressures and temperatures, water can not
exist in liquid form on the surface."
- from Web article
The
Rationale for Exploring Mars by Dr. Michael Duke
So will they find the Mars water evidence? Well, it depends on the "scientific method" they use. This is what's being done...
First, you assume that the present condition (i.e. the low-pressure, low temperature atmosphere) never always existed. How? Well, here is the second assumption...
Secondly, you assume that Mars evolved; so that there must have been a time when 'earthlike' conditions existed on the planet. Note that once you rule out creation as part of your scientific query, all your answers MUST come from your after-the-fact observations - which must be done from very remote distances (35 million to 250 million miles; depending on the relative orbit positions of both earth and mars from the sun.)
Hey, but if you have enough faith like our scientists, you can see water from the "carvings" on the landscape - at least you should be able to see the footprints where water walked millions of years ago!
The conclusions the many scientists - faithful to science as they are - are (or would be) these:
- Since there is evidence of water, there was life on mars. [My warning would be; don't go theorizing how mars would have eaten it's inhabitants!]
- If there was life on mars before, then we may certainly be able to live on mars - we need more tax dollars for explorations.
Well, if that's not how the mars water tale will end, then no one will drink the reports from the mars rover spirit and opportunity.
Would there really have been life on mars, even if there is (was) water there?
Seems like an odd question, but before you assess my knowledge of biological science, please think of this description of our earth.
Genesis 1:2 - "Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters." (NIV)
What waters? This was before the statement, "Let there be light." If we may take the account as presented in Genesis, then before God prepared this earth for the first trace of life, there was water.
So couldn't the void and formless state of another planet (not yet inhabited) include water as well?
Just thinking...
And what if there was water on that red ball? It might just mean that the Creator of the universe - who also made water - did pass by there.
Any evidence of mars water does not prove life (as we know it existed there). It might just be a little bit more of the Creator's signature on a not-too-distant specimen of His vast creation.
We might not know now, but it's heaven's hope that we all keep our faith in the Source of all knowledge. And when the fullness of time comes, all things will be revealed.
Was there life on mars? I almost can't wait for the Maker of science to tell me... but I'm sure He will. I know He will.