A recent symposium at William & Mary discussed the potential for life on Mars, highlighting findings from NASA's Viking Project, which saw its first successful landings on the planet in 1976. Research Professor Joel Levine emphasized that humanity may have answered this question decades ago during the mission.
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Titled “The Exploration of Mars & the Search for Life: Viking to Humans,” the event took place on September 18 at the Sadler Center and offered insights into both the Viking missions and future plans for human exploration of Mars.
Levine noted that William & Mary has contributed significantly to Mars exploration efforts, having conducted two international symposia for NASA on human exploration. Since joining the university in 1990, he has played a pivotal role in educating students in atmospheric science, planetary science, and related fields.
Provost Peggy Agouris opened the event by celebrating the technological achievements of the Viking missions while underscoring the curiosity that drove them. She remarked, “Today we celebrate not only an extraordinary technological achievement, but the curiosity behind it,” acknowledging the extensive efforts to explore Mars over the past 50 years.
Dean Doug Schmidt highlighted the technological advancements since Viking, recalling how the landers operated with only 54 kilobytes of memory compared to modern devices. He noted that the mission's success was due to the dedication of the individuals involved.
Ellen R. Stofan, former NASA chief scientist, provided context for the Viking missions, explaining how they intersected with the space race against the Soviet Union. By the time Viking launched in 1975, some data about Mars existed, but there was still much to learn. She indicated that scientists were prepared for a range of outcomes, including the possibility of inconclusive results.
Steven Benner, director of the Westheimer Institute of Science and Technology, discussed the Viking findings, particularly the tests that suggested the presence of organic compounds on Mars. While he described the results as promising, he cautioned against claiming definitive proof of life. Misinterpretations of data regarding organic materials, he explained, led scientists to overlook possible signs of life for decades.
Several other notable speakers, including Tom Young and Gentry Lee, contributed to the symposium, reflecting on their roles in the Viking Project. The event concluded with Levine discussing future exploration plans, including a proposed human mission to Mars based on workshops led by William & Mary in collaboration with NASA.
Levine reiterated the importance of public understanding of Mars exploration efforts and its implications for understanding life beyond Earth. He expressed hope that attendees recognized the United States' ongoing commitment to exploring Mars, spotlighting a central question of science: whether life exists outside our planet.