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Saturday, May 24, 2003 Best Site for Life Not on Landing List Russell Crater. Credit: NASA/JPL/MSSS New research in Germany suggests that the best spot to look for life on Mars is far from any of the landing sites selected for exploration from probes launching this year. The site, called Russell Crater, shows evidence of mudflows that leads to liquid water on the surface. Liquid water is considered a necessary prerequisite for life. There are some problems, however. Located in the southern hemisphere, it experiences different conditions than the other sites. The rovers travelling to Mars this year all have special concerns over power supply from a weaker sun, and heat required for operation. Away from the equator, it becomes more difficult to explore. (More info: BBC.co.uk) @ 12:39 EST