Do you think we will encounter E.T. life in our lifetime? I don't just mean bacteria, I mean anything like humans, wolves, squirrels, bugs, not intelligent life but something similar to life on Earth?

What planet/moon has the best chance of supporting life like this in our solar system?

Also, when are we actually going to Mars (humans).

No.

Other than Earth, none.

Who knows. I doubt it will be within fifty years.

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Conscious reasoning is an attempt to justify the choice after it has been made.

Humans suck

Aw wait a bit. Our lifetimes are brief in the timescale of something as momentous as encountering extraterrestrial higher life-forms, especially seeing as how we're so self-absorbed with our own nascent sapience. That leaves it largely up to ET to do the legwork and come on over. But the chances of it happening in your lifetime are better than they are in mine, if you accept it is ultimately inevitable.

Bacteria or microbes would be stupendously exciting. It is extremely unlikely that we would discover larger lifeforms similar in some way to Earth life elsewhere in the solar system.

None.
It has been speculated that Europa could conceivably have larger than microbial creatures swimming in the water around hot spots under its ice but this is only thought of as pure speculation, subject to change as we learn more.

We're at the very beginning of returning to the Moon. A Mars expedition is further out after that. I hope its sooner than I think but my initial impression is that we'll have people walking on Mars within 30 years at the soonest.

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"Insignificant molehill sometimes more important than conspicuous mountain." - Charlie Chan

Physical contact? No, I don't.

Intercepted communications signal? I don't know. Neither does anyone else.

Earth is the best.

Europa is the second best. Yes, it's speculation, but it's possible.

I believe that there is the possibility of some other moons containing life, but don't quote me on that. Not intelligent complex life, though, but microbial. However, the chances are low, I feel.

"Eventually."

Maybe.

__________________
There are few left who
Stare at the skies with wonder
Wishing to know more;
The clouds still drift by above
But the eyes below are blind.
--Laura Lundberg

Check out my writing, maybe.

What, have you been studying biology? Or did you recently have a baby?

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As above, so below

In our solar system? Europa or Enceladus' subsurface oceans might have anything in them, even complex (multicellular) life. And I haven't given up on Titan...

I think there is a good chance we will indirectly discover life within 20 years as discussed here, however its not direct contact. Watch the linked video, it was amazing (Thanks again, A.DIM!)

I think 30-40 years for bootprints on mars. what a shame.

If there is other life in this solar system, IMHO its likely microscopic, unless there is a biosphere under the ice in Europa, or deep underground on Mars. In either case, we are 30 - 40 years from discovering that...

I seriously doubt that, or even in a hundred years. The biggest technical challenge is radiation exposure, mission duration, project logistics and expense. No single country will put up the funds to make bootprints. A large scale international collaboration would also be a challenge.

As time goes on and climate change increases pressure on energy generation and greenhouse gas mitigation, nations will find more of their budgets going to the energy sector and social projects for a growing and increasingly aging population. There will simply be no discretionary funds for elaborate manned missions to other planets. Manned missions to other planets aren't anywhere on the horizon, IMO.

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Conscious reasoning is an attempt to justify the choice after it has been made.

DO you think its possible/feasible for a private company (conglomeration) to land men on the moon in the next 20-30 years? What about Mars? I do think its possible we might see a private expedition to the moon in the next 30 years. Mars of course would be farther off; unless they followed Zubrin's Plan.

I agree with you on the challenges faced by going, as well as the challenges here. I know we have to work on things at home, but I feel space technology is also very important to us as a race.

Why would a private company want to land a man on the moon?

It might be possible, but it's doubtful. It simply wouldn't be profitable given the levels of engineering required, not to mention liability exposure. It might become more possible if a permanent base is established for scientific research/astronomical observation, but that would need to be kick started with government funds. In time, the operation could be handed off to private enterprise, but not in such a short time frame.

No chance.

I don't disagree about the importance, but I just don't see it happening any time soon.

Robotic probes are a different kettle of fish. I think more should be done with designing sophisticated autonomous robots. We already have self driving cars in complex environments, able to travel at normal driving speeds. Make them nuclear powered so that they can operate conterminously and at speed and give them sophisticated diagnostic equipment. Make them an order of magnitude more capable than the current Mars rovers. It would be way cheaper than manned missions and hence, much more likely to be funded. We also need faster, more capable spacecraft.

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Conscious reasoning is an attempt to justify the choice after it has been made.

Well, there was this test recently of new a rocket which could make the trip to Mars as little as 39 days. Fraser wrote an article about it.

Such an engine as this would apparently save billions, freeing up funds for ... lots of things!

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"Where the telescope ends, the microscope begins. Which of the two has the greater view?" - Hugo

"Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing had happened." - Churchill

Maybe there is a happy medium.... I wonder if it would be possible for more intimate interaction between robotic explorer and earth-bound (or orbital-bound) human. Have a robot that has an autonomous mode for mundane taskes, such as travelling, sample ID, etc, but when the time is right, could handle a much more direct human interface, so that some of the benefits of human presence are acheived. Humans could use the robots to virtually walk around, turn over rocks, inspect strata, shake hands with LGMs, etc. (LOL)

Of course, the big technology hurdle is communications speed - the delay time for commands and feedback would limit that the effectiveness of that type of interaction. Simply picking up a rock and inspecting it, or maybe taking a sample from an interesting cliff face would require a lot of time and patience. Given that Mars and Earth's mean distance is about 78,300,000 Km and light travels at 299,792.458 Km/sec, then round trip time for communications (not counting processing time for commands, etc) would be 78,300,000 / 299,792.458 = 261.2 seconds = 4.35 minutes x 2 (round trip) = 8.7 minutes. Account for communications processing, signal relay times, mechanical interface lag, etc, and the best reaction time you could have is about 9 minutes. Not exactly lightning fast.

Maybe our money is best spent finding a way to make telepresence technology a little better so that we can explore more, short term! Can you say FTL Communications?

If you mean ETI: IMO, not a chance.

If you mean evidence of past or extant life in our Solar System: Just beyond the range of being worth betting on.

If you mean an exoplanet with an intriguing spectral signature that might indicate favorable living conditions: Quite good.

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"Call me old-fashioned, but I think fire is magic. And it scares me a lot."

--The State

To mine it -- for Helium-3 as well as other resources eventually.

We may also mine asteroids before sending humans to Mars.

Mike

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Plan as though you will live forever, but live as though you may die tomorrow.

No. We reside on a beautiful planet which is rich beyond the wildest dreams of cosmic avarice. But there lies an inexhaustible void of near infinity between
us and the stars, and time remains the great conqueror. And we may as well
add radiation to that . You would never live to see the destination of your choice. But it remains beautiful, and with our gifts we may view it with our children. Some gifts are sufficient.
Best regards,

Dan

No.

No there doesn't.

4 light years is far, yes, but not "near infinity". Neither is 100 light years, or even 1000 light years.

__________________
There are few left who
Stare at the skies with wonder
Wishing to know more;
The clouds still drift by above
But the eyes below are blind.
--Laura Lundberg

Check out my writing, maybe.

It depends on the context. If you have to walk 1000 miles through a desert with no water, then 1000 miles is "near infinity". Danscope is basically saying that 4 light years might as well be infinity, as far as actually getting there is concerned (and actually I agree). It's hyperbole, OK, but I don't think danscope meant it literally.

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As above, so below

Depends on the technology you're using.

__________________
There are few left who
Stare at the skies with wonder
Wishing to know more;
The clouds still drift by above
But the eyes below are blind.
--Laura Lundberg

Check out my writing, maybe.

1. Mine H3, as was pointed out previously
2. Build a telescope on the dark side and sell time
3. Offer paying customers a chance to visit the moon or experience space

There are many, many ways a private company could profit by going to the Moon. There are lots of challenges, but a company with enough money and resources might be able to find a way to do it long enough to finally realize a profit.

I would pay money to go to the moon. Unfortunately I don't make that kind of income, but I believe space travel will be very profitable someday, providing companies put up the R/D funding first. Virgin Galactic is a good example...
Personally I think it's very possibe, if not likely, that over the next 100 years or so, private companies will take the lead in space exploration - tourism and mining coule make it very profitiable, albiet risky...
There would probably be a coop effort between governments and private orgs....

I agree. I could even possibly swing 100k to take one of VG's orbitals in a few years, it would be worth it to me.

haha x2

1. Unless you expect a major boom in the party balloon business, H3 isn't worth the effort just yet.

2. The dark side doesn't actually stay dark.

3. Even the space clown doesn't have the kind of money to underwrite a moon landing.

2. The dark side doesn't actually stay dark.
***************
I'm so glad that you pointed this out. It should have been apparent, but this myth persists. It is only the side we can't see from earth, but it remains in full sun for as long as our side resides in darkness.

Best regards,
Dan

True, but it seems like it would be a sweet location for a very large radio telescope.

What makes you think we might be anywhere closer to discovering deep underground life on Mars in 30-40 years?
(not to mention Europa)

Jens, that tickled me!

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ooops..... wrong forum!!!