Curiosity Lands
Mar's Rover Curiosity Needs to Dig Deep for Organic Molecules
Read the articles in the two links above.
Answer the following questions using your own words and complete sentences. Also, respond to another classmate's post with a question or thoughtful comment.
1) What is the purpose of Curiosity's mission to Mars?
2) Looking for life in all the wrong places....what conditions on the surface of Mars are prohibitive for the presence of life as we know it?
3) What abiotic (non-living) factors will likely determine how deep Curiosity will have to dig to find organic molecules?
4) What factors on Earth do not exist in measurable amounts on Mars that might lead to a discovery of organic molecules closer to the surface?
5) Considering all that you read above, what is the biggest limitation to Curiosity's chances of discovering organic molecules on Mars?
6) In the first article, the cost of the most recent mission to Mars cost Americans about seven dollars per person. Do you think missions like this one should be paid for by the American people? What value do we get or don't get by exploring planets that might support life near and far from us?
