NASA scientists believe that man will succeed in finding conclusive signs of life beyond Earth by the year 2045. The space agency emphasizes that extraterrestrial life is not a mere possibility, but a fact. Thus, scientists are no more doubtful about alien life and are convinced about finding it soon. A forum on habitable places in space was held this week in which NASA chief scientist Ellen Stofan stated “I think we’re going to have strong indications of life beyond Earth within a decade, and I think we’re going to have definitive evidence within 20 to 30 years.” She added “We know where to look. We know how to look. In most cases we have the technology, and we’re on a path to implementing it. And so I think we’re definitely on the road.”
She also highlighted that they are talking about microbes and not little green men. Since years, the scientific community has been searching for extraterrestrial life and as per various researches some of the planets near Earth and their respective moons may have the conditions necessary for supporting some kind of life. Astronomers have found evidences that indicate one of the Saturn’s moons, Enceladus, may have an ocean whereas Ganymede, Jupiter’s famous moon, possibly houses a salt-water ocean. Both of them are thus believed to have conditions which could support life. According to the experts, Europa, Jupiter’s frozen moon, may also have its own ocean having all the ingredients to nurture life.
The former astronaut and associate administrator for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, John Grunsfeld, said “I think we’re one generation away in our solar system, whether it’s on an icy moon or on Mars, and one generation (away) on a planet around a nearby star.” The debate on whether alien life exists is now a thing of past and presently scientists are pondering over how to recognize the extraterrestrial life. Stofan, who is also a geologist, mentioned “I have a bias that it’s eventually going to take humans on the surface of Mars – field geologists, astrobiologists, chemists – actually out there looking for that good evidence of life that we can bring back to Earth for all the scientists to argue about.”
