KaneHau t1_iu5l9eg wrote on October 28, 2022 at 6:42 PM

These days we take great pains to not do that exact thing. (Earlier missions, not so much so.)

Mainly, because if we detect life on other planets - we have to make sure we didn't introduce the life ourself. (And vice-versa.)

Now, once we have explored some promising planet or moon, and determined that there is no meaningful life there - then terraforming because more feasible.

isnisse OP t1_iu5m1s5 wrote on October 28, 2022 at 6:48 PM

I wish the space comunity had some clear lines when to begin that step on Mars. I would love to see a micrope colony followed up by a rover in My life time.

frustrated_staff t1_iu5oohe wrote on October 28, 2022 at 7:05 PM

There are laws preventing spreading life to other worlds (at least for the time being)

Mother_Nebula904 t1_iu5sa2v wrote on October 28, 2022 at 7:30 PM

imagine going to supermax for that

[deleted] t1_iu5wjet wrote on October 28, 2022 at 7:59 PM

[removed]

MikeWise1618 t1_iu5smdb wrote on October 28, 2022 at 7:32 PM

Probably the biggest reason we don't do that at the moment is the fear that it could eliminate native life forms that we could learn a lot from. Probably overblown as the native forms are likely to be better adapted. But certainly possible.