A key role for analogue missions in the search for life
- Paper number
IAC-08.A1.6.8
- Author
Dr. Victoria Hipkin, Canadian Space Agency, Canada
- Coauthor
Dr. John D. Rummel, East Carolina University, United States
- Year
2008
- Abstract
The search for life on Mars and on the moons of the outer planets of our solar system is a remarkable challenge. Bathed as we are in Earth life, we face formidable difficulties in developing definitive signatures for extraterrestrial life (biomarkers) that can be detected despite the inevitable contamination of the tools used to select and deliver material to the instruments that will measure those signatures (sample chain contamination), while using only a limited suite of planetary instrumentation due to limitations in landed mass and cost (real life). And all of that without Earth life getting in the way. In order to understand and overcome the difficulties in detecting extraterrestrial life, practice may make perfect—or at least good-enough. The study of Earth life in the extreme environments of Earth offers an important means of preparing for space missions that can undertake the challenges directly. Analogue missions are in one sense simulations that target terrestrial sites that are scientifically relevant to planetary environments, while to be useful they must have a focus on conducting real science. A well-chosen analogue site can provide a suitable development and testing ground for the sampling and analysis methodologies, but if science is not a key driver in those missions then the test is a charade, and development of improved techniques will suffer accordingly. That being said, scientific relevance is critical to the value of analogue activities. No terrestrial environment can fully represent Mars, Titan, or Europa, but targeting an environment that is relevant to the planetary body and the signature being sought is an essential part of mission preparation. In particular, the confluence of physical circumstances at a site (e.g., pH, temperature, geochemistry, volcanism, ice/water) will drive the biological and organic chemistry studies that may be accomplished, and that may reveal necessary improvements for later “real” missions. This paper will discuss the various analogue environments available on Earth, and assess their suitability to future mission types, including life detection missions and future exploration-driven opportunities. Also discussed will be the “fit” to existing activities envisioned within the Canadian and US programs.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-08.A1.6.8.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.