Credit: NASA/Space Telescope Science Institute

The word from a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey is that 58 percent of American adults consider it likely life exists on other planets.

Furthermore, Forty-nine percent (49%) say it’s likely that a human will walk on Mars in the next 25 years, down slightly from a December 2006 survey.

Other tidbits from the survey:

— Americans ages 30 to 64 are more likely to believe life exists on other planets than those who are younger and older.

— By a 23-point margin, men are more inclined than women to believe another life form exists in outer space.

— Both men and women are evenly divided over whether a human will walk on Mars in the next 25 years.

— More government workers believe it’s likely life exists outside of Earth and a human will walk on Mars compared to entrepreneurs and private company employees.

— In early January 2010, only 27% of Americans believed the current goals of the space program should include sending someone to Mars. Fifty percent (50%) opposed such a mission, with 24% undecided.

The new survey of 1,000 adults was conducted on July 9-10 by Rasmussen Reports.

For access to the survey findings, go to:

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/lifestyle/general_lifestyle/july_2011/58_believe_life_exists_on_other_planets

By Leonard David