> I think the general idea is not to contaminate planets with possible life so we can eventually study what completely different evolution circumstances produces.
History suggests that is not what will happen when we find a planet that harbors life sustaining conditions, even if our presence would destroy all life on it.
Homo sapiens' track record is one of self-interest and the (largely-ish, though sadly not mostly) unintentional devastation of life forms in human vicinity.
But I digress. When we discover a world with livable conditions, we will occupy it, fill the pace, mine it, etc. Native life on it will come under selective pressure. And that's not necessarily a bad thing.
History suggests that is not what will happen when we find a planet that harbors life sustaining conditions, even if our presence would destroy all life on it.
Homo sapiens' track record is one of self-interest and the (largely-ish, though sadly not mostly) unintentional devastation of life forms in human vicinity.
But I digress. When we discover a world with livable conditions, we will occupy it, fill the pace, mine it, etc. Native life on it will come under selective pressure. And that's not necessarily a bad thing.