The discovery of water on the planet Mars is an excellent opportunity to observe ourselves as we probe and test a new land.
What are we looking for?
Is the search for extraterrestrial life part of our quest to find the origins of the human race? Would this be in the hope that answers to that question should lead to an understanding of our purpose in the cosmic continuum? If such profundities inspire these excursions, they certainly can’t sustain them. Capturing areas of space and celestial bodies pays for itself when the matter and energy of which they are comprised are defined as resources and commodified. Such a journey is carried out in the spirit of a kind of extraterrestrial hunting expedition, with knowledge and resources as prized game.
Of course, we know that there is no “ultimate question”, and truth seeking with that sort of paradigm in mind would be a mislead endeavour. When answers are found, they set up the next set of questions. So, I dare say that we’re not there to soothe our furrowed, philosophical brows.
The determination that water exists on Mars initiates a new era of seeking that shall obviate the motivations of those behind this project. We’ll see private enterprise and government agencies struggle to establish presence and command resources, and we won’t really know what’s going on up there. Major epistemological issues are looming large.
All the stuff from which hidden knowledge is made is within this exploration of Mars. We who are outside of the program cannot verify what we are told. We don’t know what information is being withheld. Information that might possibly affect so many is controlled by very few. I am not given to negative interpretations, but I think we should keep those aspects in mind.
The issue of contamination is also important. Infecting other planets with microorganisms from earth must be forbidden, and the reverse (infection of our planet) is also true(cue Theramin music).
We also have here the opportunity to observe information become knowledge. Raw data, collected by instruments, processed with computer programs and interpreted by humans, can pass into our civilizations and become a part of humankind. Some of this information may be so novel that it will be easy to trace as it works its way into our cultures. Perhaps such knowledge may bring us to a stage of development which was not possible when we were strictly earthbound. I assume that’s what we’re hoping for.