Will we ever be able to say there is nothing alive on Mars? Will we ever be able to justify future missions to the red planet on some rationale other than the search for extraterrestrials?

Exactly how do we decide when it's time to end the focus on our planetary neighbour and turn our primary exploratory efforts elsewhere?

Huuuhhh?  Are we missing something here? 

Not until after we, i.e. flesh and blood humans, physically step foot on the planet and go looking for it.  To read the rest of the article, click here.