English language and literature overview

¶ … Mars Mystery by Graham Hancock chronicles the historical studies conducted by many scientists and researchers about the possibility that life existed on the planet Mars. This issue has long been in great discussion and debate among scientists and scholars, and two sides are formed based on this issue: one side stating that life in Mars is possible, although speculations that the planet had an existing form of civilization (similar to us human beings) is not accepted. The other side speculates the possibility that there is both life and an existing civilization in Mars. The possibility that Mars is able to support human (or at least similar to the elements needed to support human living) life is the primary factor that scientists and scholars of astronomy are interested in. The possibility that Mars can be another "Earth planet" that cultivates human life can help explain why Earth came into existence, and how human beings came into existence in this planet.

Graham Hancock provides a thorough study of evidence and facts that support his stance that there had been life on Mars, and that human life or beings similar to humans may have existed prior to the asteroid explosion the Mars planet had suffered years ago. Of all the planets in the Solar System, why is it that Mars remains to be the primary contender for a second "Earth?" Hancock provides us with the answer in his book, stating that Mars is "indisputably the most Earth-like in the solar system" for several reasons: (1) Mars's axis is tilted at angle approximately close to Earth's own axis "in relation to its orbit around the Sun"; (2) Mars makes a complete rotation in 24 hours like the Earth; (3) its shape is not perfect sphere but "somewhat flattened at the poles (similar to Earth's oblate- spheroid shape); (4) it has four seasons, icy polar caps, mountains, deserts, and dust storms; and (5) Mars once had a climate that is similar in composition and form with that of our own planet. In the more composite or chemical aspect of Mars' composition, it is similar to the Earth's geological and atmospheric composition. These similarities are the following: (1) presence of hydrocarbons similar to the breakdown products of dead micro-organisms on Earth; (2) mineral phases that are "consistent with by- products of bacterial activity; and (3) tiny carbonate globules which are speculated to be microfossils of the primitive bacteria (Williams 2001). These factors that is similar to Earth's atmospheric, biological, and geological structure and composition makes Mars the most likely contender for the 'second Earth,' where cultivation of human life is possible.

The following observations mentioned above were not merely established as speculations. These evidence are products of numerous space exploration sponsored and funded by the government in an effort to know more about Mars and other heavenly bodies which might pose potentials to cultivating human life. Of course, the space explorations are not primarily focused on the human cultivations aspect of a heavenly body; information is also needed for any danger that might happen to Earth (and human civilization) because of the spontaneous and often accidental explosions and collision activities of these heavenly bodies. According to Hancock, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration launched two probes in 1996. Called the Pathfinder, these probes aims to explore the planet in many ways possible, and this includes the obtaining specific and precise information about the biological, atmospheric, and geological foundations and composition of the planet. Hancock states that these studies are mainly de to a program that plans to "terraform" Mars, changing or conforming it to the Earth planet, which can be beneficial since there is the possibility that it can cultivate life on it. Prior to these two probes in 1996, similar space mission programs were sponsored by the U.S.S.R. In the 1960s, and these missions were followed by the U.S. afterwards, through its Mariner space program (Portree Microsoft Encarta 2002).