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Some of the dailies carried the news that two rover spacecraft scuttling between the Mars and Earth are carrying bacteria from Earth.

The bacteria, bacillus safensis were found in the chambers in California that had been used to test the rovers.

IF these micro organisms could survive the travel and the visit.. dont u ppl think there some day life could exist on Planet Mars?

N

For those of you who have read my Mars page, you know that I believe our ancient ancestors roamed the planets. How far did they travel? I dare not now speculate; but if my theories are correct, we should expect to see signs of life elsewhere in the solar system.

Therefore I am not surprised when scientists find there is a possibility of life on Jupiter's moon Europa. The speculation is not new. We have known for many years that Europa was covered by water ice. We suspected there might be liquid water beneath the solid ice we saw in our satellite flybys of Jupiter. We have found more evidence that there is indeed an ocean of liquid water under the ice and we have found evidence of organic compounds on Europa.

Liquid water means moderate temperatures. This is something we do not find on the surface of Europa  (or on any body in the solar system except Earth and, to a much less degree, on Mars) where the temperature is -200 degrees F. However, the interior of the larger bodies in the solar system is usually much warmer than the surface.

None of this information is enough to prove conclusively there is life on Europa. However, as of now, Europa seems to be the best candidate for life of any place we've visited in the solar system. We still need to know if there is dissolved oxygen in the water on Europa and if there are any of the other conditions necessary for life.

For a Creationist such as myself, what is the significance of a find of life on another world besides our own? Many Creationists will run from that issue. A typical reaction is: "Well, we've heard all that before; and nothing came of it." That is true. We once thought we saw canals on Mars and that Mars changed color with the seasons, proving it had vegetation. There have been reports of receiving radio signals from Mars and of seeing flashes of light on Mars. None of these ideas has proven what they claimed. So why should the present evidence for life beyond Earth prove any different?

For one thing, we are getting closer to these bodies than we have before. For another, these opinions now have more respect among the mainstream scientific community than similar ideas about life outside Earth had in times past.

An interesting sidenote. We recall the story of a worldwide flood. Such stories are found all over the earth. Even though every scientist has heard the Flood story, most discount it. However, a look at Mars seems to indicate that Mars once had a global flood. A look at Europa shows a world that is covered with water even as Earth is said to have been and most scientists believe Mars was.

Actually, Earth was covered by water twice, according to the Bible. When Earth was first created, it was under water until the third day of Creation when dry land appeared. Then the earth was covered again during the Flood.

In Europa are we seeing the results of the Flood? Was the destruction not just worldwide but universe wide?

Our solar system shows signs of catastrophe. Was there a planet between Mars and Jupiter that exploded? Most astronomers either believe there was or at least are open to that possibility. The pieces of that planet (sometimes called Astera, Maldek, Rahab, or Planet V among other names) made the craters we see on most bodies in the solar system. The moon partially protected Earth, but a global catastrophe hit Earth also.

Europa may have always been a water world. Or it may have experienced a flood and the waters froze on Europa before they could be evaporated.

All of this is so much speculation, but I hope it will stimulate further research by the Creationist community. Unfortunately, many in our community will deny that God allowed life to live anywhere else except on Earth until the evidence to the contrary becomes overwhelming. When that happens, the faith of many will be shaken.

Won't it be great to have another planet where we can spend our vacations?

Jokes apart, Mars is probably seen as the most favourable place in our solar system for existence of life. Another possible candidate is Europa, moon of Jupiter...

Cheers,