MISSION TO MARS

Horowitz is timely in calling our attention to the revival of the old billion-dollar proposal for quarantining a Martian sample in Earth orbit. A corollary to this is suicide by astronaut scientists who examine the sample, lest they return the Green Plague to Earth in their contaminated bodies.

The idea that Martian bugs are dangerous is based on faith rather than on science. Although no life was detected by the Viking mission, the believers in the Martian "Andromeda Strain" still insist on quarantine of returned samples. The absence of detectable life on Mars is regarded by the devout as a test of faith in their belief, rather than as scientific disproof of the existence of danger.