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KaneHau t1_iu5l9eg wrote

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.

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isnisse OP t1_iu5m1s5 wrote

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.

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MikeWise1618 t1_iu5smdb wrote

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.

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Sht_n_giglz t1_iu5she7 wrote

Because we havent had a great track record of introducing (intentionally or not) new flora and fauna to new ecosystems on Earth. Australia is a good example. We are not technologically proficient enough to predict and factor all variables that will create a homeostasis. If we try now, it will probably create a runaway chain reaction, a Frankenstein, a bigger problem that future generations will need to solve. To donit correctly, we would need a create and test a Martian biodome on Earth. There's also the big question how and who decides what Mars should look like and how we as humanity plan to utilize it. This political question is becoming more pressing, as governments and private corporations are increasingly setting their sights on exploratory missions to the Moon to develop permanent bases and asteroids for natural resource extraction.

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space-ModTeam t1_iu6a0x5 wrote

Hello u/isnisse, your submission "spreading life to other planets or moons in the solar system" has been removed from r/space because:

  • Such questions should be asked in the "All space questions" thread stickied at the top of the sub.

Please read the rules in the sidebar and check r/space for duplicate submissions before posting. If you have any questions about this removal please message the r/space moderators. Thank you.

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