Preparing for life detection on Mars
- Paper number
IAC-06-A1.6.07
- Author
Dr. Pascale Ehrenfreund, Leiden University, The Netherlands
- Year
2006
- Abstract
Mars lies at the frontier of planetary science and future missions to Mars may answer the question of whether life is present beyond the Earth. In the framework of future international planetary exploration programs, space missions are planned that will search for organics and biosignatures on Mars. A new generation of life detection instruments will carry out a groundbreaking examination of the Martian environment that will involve a search for key organic compounds at sensitivities many orders of magnitude greater than Viking. No organic molecules have been detected on the Martian surface by previous space missions. A combination of solar ultraviolet radiation, the extreme dryness and the presumed oxidizing nature of the soil seem to limit the survival of organics and life in the Martian regolith. In order to support future endeavours to search for life on Mars we have to understand the processes that may alter organic matter on the martian surface, how we can distinguish biologic from abiologic organic matter and how we can trace the influence of microbial catalysis. A strategic search for life on Mars needs a thorough interdisciplinary preparation phase. In this paper we discuss a comprehensive multidisciplinary program that includes Mars simulations, computational studies and extensive terrestrial field tests. Most importantly, we will describe our in situ instrument development program that focuses on the future identification of biosignatures on Mars.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-06-A1.6.07.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
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