Would finding life there on Mars make a big change in our plans to colonize?
Reply Mike Kremer
The US plans for colonisation is fixed for around 2020, but if Water/Life is found, I expect, Russia, China,
and Europe will take notice and act.
There has been talk that there is a lot of salt on the surface of Mars. Which may mean that common Earth like microbes as we know them might not be found. Since salt is used as a preservative in our foods.
My thoughts upon this is that, salt, by lowering the freezing point for Microbes might well keep them mobile until the Martian sun returns, to thaw? Remember, there is microbiotic life in our 'Dead Sea'
Below is the latest Phoenix photo showing raw Ice underneath Phoenix!!Exposed by the retro rockets blowing away the thin top soil.
http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA10741Lets all stay optimistic
