I'm not entirely sure how to elaborate on the subject, but it's just something that has sprung to mind since I started hearing about Mars again thanks to the Curiosity rover. If we could send some special autonomous (or semi-autonomous) robot digging equipment and actually begin to excavate, we may find something preserved. I know that rovers have taken samples of stuff before, but I don't think any have really "dug" for something. The thing is, we'll need to dig pretty far in if we expect to find anything at all.

As of right now we can pretty much say that there was at least water flowing on Mars at some point, but that's the best we've currently got. I'd recommend excavating at the places where it's thought water was, something should be fossilised there.

Just some food for thought.

That would be one hell of an expensive "no".

Mars is just a dead rock, nothing more.

I would say YES, becouse of SpaceX, and the plan to put people on Mars (No return trip mentioned FYI) But you have to think about the variables. Rock densidy as they move deeper, replacement parts, and labor time, and so on.. The question becomes complex fast, or it could be so simple that evidence is blowing in the wind. If life onced existed on Mars, then it becomes our duty to find out just how far advanced did the life become. I don't personally put much faith in the Aliens living there (or have) Theory, but it sure would be amazing to know that they have! But... Back to the point... The truth of the matter is we do have an understanding of what we would be dealing with, compared to other planets, so excavation would be right there in the same context of learning about the planet itself. Would it be hard? Of course. But, if SpaceX dose do it, and people are there, this is a very logical thing that would be first on the list. This wouldn't be something done later on after we colonized the place, this is right up there with learning how to survive. The more and more learned through this, could be the difference between long term settlement and a short fling in space.

I always wondered what would happen if life (advanced life) was found, our current History Textbooks would be useless compared to the massive information needed to put in about the history of Mars. It would be the new world discovered all over again, and the advances in technology and every other field would be mind boggling. So to answer you question in the most simplest form. Yes, and they must inorder to move forward. Is there evidence of an ancient alien civilization? Only one way to find out.

i thought it was already pretty established that mars has been inhabited at some point anyway? i think it would be better to develop technology to explore our oceans more efficiently than sending stuff to mars that might or might not work when it gets there.

Wouldn't it be more realistic to do an ultrasound or x-ray or something to see if there might be something worth digging for?

My guess is we could - but likely won't because of cost.

This is just my personal guess. When and if it happens the discovery will be a by-product of space mining or something like that..

Originally posted by ladyteeny
i thought it was already pretty established that mars has been inhabited at some point anyway? i think it would be better to develop technology to explore our oceans more efficiently than sending stuff to mars that might or might not work when it gets there.

Then you are not using trustworthy sources if the places you look at establish that. It is very unlikely Mars ever had life, and our current understanding puts the "right conditions" at a very short time frame a very long time ago. There are other places much more likely, such as Europa. Best case would be underground on Mars, only because that is an unknown, and the surface is a known.

They have been working towards this for a couple of decades already. Not quite a revelation.