I’m going to say that Zubrin is also off-base.  Nice sentiment, but, no.  Our ethics need to extend a bit beyond what is simply ‘best for humanity.’    While I wouldn’t liken Native Americans to a microbe, I still find his analogy a little flawed.   

Not that I agree entirely with Sagan either.

The real exploration of Mars will happen by those who make the one-way trek to live there.   Those who will get intimate with their new planet.   The full scope of microbial importance in our own survival remains outside our current knowledge base.    To act without regard to the unique biosphere of an alien world is far more berserk than what Zubrin is suggesting about Sagan.     Really just feels like from one extreme to another.

#SpaceEveryDay  

http://t.usnews.com/a2A161

]]>