Next Mars mission should search for past microbial life: science panel

CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA, July 13: NASA’s next mission  to Mars should look for past microbial life and collect samples to eventually bring back to Earth, a science advisory group said on Tuesday. The US space agency expects to spend about 1.5 billion dollar, plus launch costs, on a mission to follow the ongoing Mars rover Curiosity, which is scouting an ancient impact crater for habitats that could have supported microbial life. (agencies)