Mars Exploration Should Be Mandatory

Abstract

This paper explores and compares the perceptions of the risks associated with Mars Sample Return (MSR) among schoolchildren and adults. Comparable surveys were constructed and administered to two sample groups; science students aged 11-15 and adults with an interest in science aged 18 and over. Contingency table analyses were used to quantify any differences in perception between the two groups. Schoolchildren were less likely to consider Mars exploration to be quite or very useful and recorded significantly higher levels of risk perception regarding both a MSR mission and also towards other societal risks. These results have important implications for policy-makers, as they can inform education programs now that will enhance the viability and public support for future missions.

Introduction

Since 1971, when Mariner 9 captured photos of the surface of Mars which appeared to show canyons carved by water on the landscape, there has been considerable interest and debate among the scientific community about the possibility of life on Mars.

In recent years, the search for past or present microbial life has intensified with the robotic rovers Spirit and Opportunity dispatched to the Red Planet in 2004 and the Mars Phoenix Lander launched mid last year. In 2009, NASA plans to launch the Mars Science Laboratory, a large rover that will collect soil and rock samples and analyze them for organics in situ (Weaver & Duke, pp. n.d). Together, it is hoped that the results from these missions will inform NASA's most ambitious and comprehensive attempt to search for past or current indicators of life, Mars Sample Return (MSR).

The MSR project aims to bring rocks, soils and atmospheric samples from Mars to Earth and is currently planned for the end of the next decade. However, in the latest budget proposals handed down to the US government by NASA, there have been substantial cuts to the Mars program which has generated debate over the future of the project. In addition, the resignation of NASA Science Chief Alan Stern, a strong proponent of MSR, has further fuelled doubts (Richardson, pp. 73). There is a growing concern among space scientists that public interest in space and in particular a Mars mission is declining and this may have important implications for the viability of the Mars project.

Given the uncertain environment, it is critical to understand the views and beliefs of the general public towards this mission and thus gauge the likely level of public support. We undertook a comparison of adult and schoolchildren perceptions of MSR in an attempt to determine the present and future concerns regarding exploration of Mars.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey was constructed to measure and compare perceptions of MSR in schoolchildren and adults. The study sample consisted of 116 schoolchildren (aged 11-15) and 74 adults (aged 18 and over) in Australia. The surveys asked a range of demographic questions and explored respondents' perceptions as presented below. Where necessary, slight alterations were made to the survey distributed among schoolchildren to ensure that the questions were worded appropriately for the age of ...