Mars landing and 7 minutes of terror

[Roses]

Newly released video of the landing from on-board cameras.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/science-environment-56159376

Amazing.

[Alan Burns]

Don't be silly: if this mission does confirm that life did exist on Mars then a reasonable assumption is that Mars once also had sufficient 'basic ingredients', and that life is not confined to this planet. If these 'basic ingredients' are sufficient to get life going on two different planets then 'more' is clearly not essential (whatever 'more' actually means).

By "more" I refer to the intelligently driven willpower needed to create the incredible complexity of living cells as opposed to the destructive nature of random forces.

[Nearly Sane]

By "more" I refer to the intelligently driven willpower needed to create the incredible complexity of living cells as opposed to the destructive nature of random forces.

woo, holy infinite regress, ABman.

[Gordon]

By "more" I refer to the intelligently driven willpower needed to create the incredible complexity of living cells as opposed to the destructive nature of random forces.

So, assuming for now that evidence of, say, extinct unicellular life is found on Mars your view would that, if so, it was 'God' that done it - yes?

The problem there, Alan, is how you then explain why this "intelligently driven willpower", what with it being omniscient etc, would go to the trouble of creating life on Mars in the full knowledge that it was doomed - that doesn't sound much like "intelligently driven willpower" to me: it sounds to me like 'God' made a mistake.

[Alan Burns]

So, assuming for now that evidence of, say, extinct unicellular life is found on Mars your view would that, if so, it was 'God' that done it - yes?

Yes of course - random forces could never do it.

The problem there, Alan, is how you then explain why this "intelligently driven willpower", what with it being omniscient etc, would go to the trouble of creating life on Mars in the full knowledge that it was doomed - that doesn't sound much like "intelligently driven willpower" to me: it sounds to me like 'God' made a mistake.

I would not consider that my limited human intelligence could somehow compete with the unimaginable intelligence needed to create and develop life to come up with such an explanation.  I do not presume to know the mind of God.

[torridon]

Apparently the main aim of this incredible feat of technology is to discover signs of life where water once existed.  How  much time, effort and expense will be needed to discover that you need more than just the presence of basic ingredients for life to come into existence?

'Goddidit' is never going to be a satisfying answer for people with an enquiring mind.

[Gordon]

Yes of course - random forces could never do it.I would not consider that my limited human intelligence could somehow compete with the unimaginable intelligence needed to create and develop life to come up with such an explanation.  I do not presume to know the mind of God.

No doubt you think that, Alan: but I really don't think we should pursue this line here given that this is the 'Science and Technology' Board.
 
If I get time later on I might start a thread on this in the 'Theism and Atheism' Board.

Done that here:

http://www.religionethics.co.uk/index.php?topic=18406.new#new

[jeremyp]

But....if the basic ingredients for life have been present on Mars for billions of years....but  life has not formed at all (even simple organisms), then it shows that there is something special about the earth where life has not just formed but has evolved into such complex organisms.

In comparison to Earth, Mars only receives 40% of the energy from the Sun per unit area. It may just be that there's not enough.

[Sriram]

In comparison to Earth, Mars only receives 40% of the energy from the Sun per unit area. It may just be that there's not enough.

But...life (in general) does not appear to have specific requirements. Life could form and evolve under very different conditions suitably. Bacteria on earth live and thrive in the darkest and most inhabitable places...even without oxygen and sunlight.  Why not on Mars?

[Gordon]

Great pics from Mars.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-56238018

[Roses]

Fascinating. Earth may look like that in the future if global warming is not brought under control.

[SusanDoris]

Unconnected question but seems an appropriate place to ask it:

When a space probe or something is sent to go round a planet so that it can be flung off in another required direction, what is the word or phrase for that?

I've been trying to think of it for days! I tried asking a google search question but couldn't find the right question to ask.

Any help much appreciated.

[Nearly Sane]

Unconnected question but seems an appropriate place to ask it:

When a space probe or something is sent to go round a planet so that it can be flung off in another required direction, what is the word or phrase for that?

I've been trying to think of it for days! I tried asking a google search question but couldn't find the right question to ask.

Any help much appreciated.

Gravitational slingshot

[SusanDoris]

Gravitational slingshot

Many thanks - the word slingshot is what I was looking for. I hadn't thought about the word gravitational, but I'll use it in future along with slingshot!