Scientists Present Ground-Breaking Mars Results in Mexico City

Speaking at a press conference yesterday morning, packed with radio, television, and newspaper reporters, the scientists who announced last week a new interpretation of 30-year-old Mars data, which recasts the discussion of life on Mars, explained in detail their research, and the changes taking place on Mars. The press briefing was held at the Autonomous National University of Mexico (UNAM), because the principal author of the scientific paper describing the results, Dr. Rafaello Navarro-Gonzales, was born in Mexico City, and teaches at UNAM. Dr. Navarro has been working in collaboration with NASA on research to shed light on questions of the possibility of life on Mars, and other venues outside the Earth.

Dr. Navarro has participated in a broad range of field research, like his co-author Chris McKay, studying life in extreme environments, such as the Atacama Desert in Chile, and Antarctica. Although he obtained his advanced degree in chemistry in the U.S. in 1989, he repatriated to Mexico in 1991, to help the growth of the scientific community there. At the press conference, the scientists said they were very pleased to be at UNAM, which has had 10 years of collaboration with NASA. Dr. Navarro is a member of the science team that will be analyzing results from one of the instruments to fly on the Mars Science Laboratory next year.

Following the press conference, LaRouche organizers were able to talk with the speakers, and give them material on NAWAPA.

Since April, Mexico has had a civilian space agency, with modest funding, and modest goals. Now, with the thrust to build NAWAPA taking shape, the scientific, engineeering, and manpower of Mexico will have to be mobilized. The talents and capabilities of Mexico's space community will play a vital role.