Scientists Worried About Military Facility to Store NASA Mars Rocks

NASA's Mars Perseverance rover has been bagging up dirt and rocks in hopes that a future mission to the Red Planet will scoop them up and bring them back to Earth for further study.

NPR reports that returning space rocks from an alien planet comes with inherent risks, potentially allowing dangerous microbes to come along for the ride.

Despite our best efforts, we have yet to find any evidence of life on the Martian surface.

NASA is evaluating plans to store Martian samples at a US Air Force facility in Utah around a decade from now because of the immense risks.

"Maybe this is the most important environmental assessment that humans have ever done." said Peter Doran, a geology professor at Louisiana State University.

There is a chance that there is something living on the surface of Mars.

The European Space Agency is collaborating with NASA on a sample return mission. Perseverance has put samples into sealed containers to prepare for the mission.

Despite occasional setbacks, the rover has collected eight different samples.

The International Committee Against Mars Sample Return argues that it is not worth the risk.

According to Barry DiGregorio, a writer working with the committee,pathogenic organisms from another planet could spill out upon the sample's return in the Utah desert.

The scientists at NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab are not too worried. The samples will be welded shut after being heat sterile.

Brian Clement is a planetary protection expert with NASA. We want to be able to break apart any biomolecules that have activity.

Experts argue that Martian life would have a better chance of surviving on Earth since it has a completely different environment.

The topic of planetary protection, a movement dedicated to prevent the Earth from being contaminated by life forms and pathogens, is more relevant now than it has been in a long time.

NASA is willing to do its homework and prepare for the worst, even though the risks are incredibly low.

NASA is bringing rocks back from Mars, but what if they contain alien life? NPR

Mars Rover attempts to collect rock to send back to Earth.