Space Forum / SETI / April 2004

Article - Analysis: 'Bounce' rock's cosmic portent -By Phil Berardelli -
United Press International (Apr.16,'04 6:07 PM

http://www.upi.com/view.cfm?StoryID=20040416-041840-4139r

Talks about how NASA researchers using MER determined that a rock at the
Opportunity LZ has a proportion of pyroxene that is unlike other
deposits and that its chemical make-up "...matches that of a meteorite
that hit the ground in Shergotty, India, on Aug. 25, 1865." and of one
found in Antarctica in 1979.

"...As a result, NASA scientists are convinced Shergotty, EETA79001 and
Bounce -- and maybe a couple dozen other Martian rocks that found their
way to Earth -- were ejected from Mars by the impact of a large asteroid
or comet."

(SFAI could tell, scientists seemed reasonably certain about this before
MER.)

"...So far, no one has broached the bigger implication: Bounce provides
conclusive evidence not only of Martian meteorites on Earth, but also of
the possibility of cross-seeding."

(This has been broached before, but perhaps a more poignant argument can
be made now?)

"...The discovery of Bounce raises the distinct possibility that life
arising from a common source could have existed for a time on both
worlds..."

(Panspermians rejoice.)

"...The way Opportunity's luck has been going, it would not be
surprising to learn the rover has detected Martian microbes..."

(I wonder how it could conclusively detect microbes with the current
detectors?)

Keep searching, Jason H.