NASA is funny. They are always searching for signs of life, past or present, on planets in our system when they can send a lander of some sort. But, if there is a spot where there actually might be a chance of life existing, they avoid it because of the minuscule chance of some bacteria on any rover contaminating the area.
We’ll look for signs of life where it’s hard to find and avoid the areas where there might be a better chance of it.
That’s why this is done: https://www.nasa.gov/ames/space-biosciences/planetary-protection/
I realize you were probably talking about visiting other worlds in person, but we would probably still have unmanned missions there first.
NASA is funny. They are always searching for signs of life, past or present, on planets in our system when they can send a lander of some sort. But, if there is a spot where there actually might be a chance of life existing, they avoid it because of the minuscule chance of some bacteria on any rover contaminating the area.
We’ll look for signs of life where it’s hard to find and avoid the areas where there might be a better chance of it.