The harsh conditions make it the ideal site

May 19, 2009 05:52 GMT  ·  By
Mount Everest could provide NASA with some hints on how to detect alien life on exoplanets
   Mount Everest could provide NASA with some hints on how to detect alien life on exoplanets

Searching for life outside our planet is not a very easy task, especially on account of the distance between ourselves and the next possibly populated world, but also because there exists a great possibility that all other life forms detected there could have a significantly different inner structure and organization than that we are used to. Therefore, knowing what to look for is essential, and life detectors – devices that will analyze matter and determine if it, well, lives – will be at the forefront of this type of exploration. For this very purpose, five-time shuttle Astronaut Scott Parazynski has embarked on an expedition to Everest, hoping that the most severe environment in the world could offer some clues on how life on distant planets may look like.

That is to say, the former astronaut, who will attempt to reach the mountain's summit on Wednesday, will conduct a series of astrobiological tests during his ascent. He told Space that he left NASA in March to go on this expedition, as climbing was one of his older passions, next to going in outer space. The current trip to Everest provided him with the chance of combining the two together in a perfect way. “I've been dreaming of an ascent of Mount Everest ever since I began dreaming about space as well,” the former astronaut said.

“In fact, the two dreams hold a similar appeal. When you stand in a place that very few others can go, it's really a neat accomplishment. We're looking for evidence for life in the extreme. Things that can live in the harshest environments on Earth may be the kinds of things that once existed on Mars or other planets,” he added. The line of thought for the current expedition has it that, if bacteria or other organisms can live near hydrothermal vents, or around volcanoes, and beneath miles of ice, then they could very well exist about 8,800 meters high in the atmosphere as well.

“Ultraviolet radiation is a key parameter in the sustenance of life. But too much, of course, and everybody gets skin cancer and it affects plankton blooms. We'll be up at those altitudes at the peak of UV penetration, and we'll be able to assess the amount of ultraviolet damage taking place,” Parazynski concluded. The former astronaut tried to escalate the mountain last year as well, but he ruptured a disc on his back, and was forced to return. He has had back surgery, and is now back in business.