[meteorite-list] NASA Statement on False Claim of Evidence of Life on Mars

[Ron Baalke]

Dolores Beasley/Gretchen Cook-Anderson
Headquarters, Wahington             February 18, 2005
(Phone: 202/358-1753/0836)

RELEASE: 05-052

NASA STATEMENT ON FALSE CLAIM OF EVIDENCE OF LIFE ON MARS

News reports on February 16, 2005, that NASA scientists 
from Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif., have 
found strong evidence that life may exist on Mars are 
incorrect.

NASA does not have any observational data from any current 
Mars missions that supports this claim. The work by the 
scientists mentioned in the reports cannot be used to 
directly infer anything about life on Mars, but may help 
formulate the strategy for how to search for martian life. 
Their research concerns extreme environments on Earth as 
analogs of possible environments on Mars. No research paper 
has been submitted by them to any scientific journal 
asserting martian life.

For information about NASA and agency programs on the Web, 
visit:

http://www.nasa.gov

For more information about NASA's Mars programs on the Web, 
visit:

http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/

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