This highly energetic salt could potentially offer a good source of energy for humans on Mars, but not if humans accidentally introduce a microbe that eats it up before we have a chance to use it, says Conley. The guidelines are strict on keeping spacecraft clean when looking for life on other planets, but less stringent for spacecraft traveling to a celestial body for other reasons. This is because planetary protection guidelines exist to preserve scientific evidence of extraterrestrial life—not the environments of other planets, says Gerhard Kminek, the planetary protection officer at the European Space Agency.
These panels report to the United Nations with their findings. But again, they only offer guidelines, not laws, says Kminek. The standards for travel also differ from one celestial body to another.
That is, at least based on our understanding of these celestial bodies right now. During the Apollo missions to the Moon in the s and 70s, we learned how unforeseen obstacles can cause critical problems in space travel. The Moon is lifeless, so this had little consequence on either celestial body. But if the Moon harbored life and a transfer of species did occur, the consequences would have been far greater.
While space engineering has come a long way since the Apollo missions, plenty of work remains to determine the best practices in protecting life on other planets from humans, says Conley. And when we do finally land on Mars, the advancements will need to continue—even if it appears that scientists have sufficient knowledge of human threat to other planets.
Space Colonization Wiki Explore. Wiki Content. Stephen Hawking Asking big questions about the universe David Deutsch What is our place in the cosmos? Explore Wikis Community Central. Register Don't have an account? Given the distances involved, this would likely require rockets that used nuclear-thermal propulsion , or something even more advanced like anti-matter rockets.
And while the former is technically feasible, no such propulsion systems have been built just yet. Anything more advanced would require many more years of research and development, and a major commitment in resources. All of this, in turn, raises the crucial issue of infrastructure.
Basically, any fleet operating between Earth and Saturn would require a network of bases between here and there to keep them supplied and fueled.
This process would be punitively expensive by current standards and again would require a fleet of ships with advanced drive systems. And while radiation is not a major threat in the Cronian system unlike around Jupiter , the moons have been subject to a great deal of impacts over the course of their history.
As a result, any settlements built on the surface would likely need additional protection in orbit, like a string of defensive satellites that could redirect comets and asteroids before they reached orbit. Given its abundant resources, and the opportunities it would present for exploring deeper into the Solar System and maybe even beyond , Saturn and its system of moons is nothing short of a major prize.
On top of that, the prospect of colonizing there is a lot more appealing than other locations that come with greater hazards i. However, such an effort would be daunting and would require a massive multi-generational commitment.
We have written many interesting articles on colonization here at Universe Today. Astronomy Cast also has many interesting episodes on the subject. In addition to boasting the only body other than Earth to have a dense atmosphere. Unless I am missing something. Skip to content.
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