Astrobiology Field Research in Mars Analogue Environments

Paper number

IAC-12,A1,5,6,x16202

Author

Prof. Bernard Foing, ESA/ESTEC, The Netherlands

Year

2012

Abstract

Co-authors: B.Foing(1,2), L.Rodrigues(2), C.Stoker(3), P.Ehrenfreund(4,5), S.Direito(2), W.Röling(2), G.Davies(2), W.Pouters(2,6), I.Rammos(2), Y.Zhao(2), B.Rai (2,6), A.Mangeot(6), EuroGeoMars2009 Team, DOMMEX­-ILEWG-EuroMoonMars 2010-2012 Teams, 1) ESA/ESTEC, 2) Vrije-Universiteit Amsterdam, 3)NASA-Ames, 4) LIC-Leiden, 5) GWU, 6) ILEWG  


We deployed during ILEWG EuroGeoMars 2009 and EuroMoonMars/DOMMEX 2010-2012 campaigns a suite of instruments and techniques [1, 2, 9-11] relevant to habitability and astrobiology research in Mars analogue extreme environments (including sample collection, context imaging from remote to local and microscale, drilling, spectrometers and Polymerase Chain Reaction PCR) and to help in the interpretation of Mars missions measurements from orbit (MEX, MRO) or from the surface (MER, MSL, ExoMars). 

We will discuss how geological and geochemical evolution affected local parameters (mineralogy, organics content, environment variations) and therefore the habitability and the signature of organics and biota. Among the important findings of these field research campaigns are the diversity in the composition of soil samples even when collected in close proximity, the low abundances of detectable polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and amino acids and the presence of biota of all three domains of life with significant heterogeneity. An extraordinary variety of putative extremophiles, mainly Bacteria but also Archaea and Eukarya was observed [3,4,9]. A dominant factor in measurable bacterial abundance seems to be soil porosity and lower clay-sized particle content [6-8]. We will discuss the protocol for sterile sampling, contamination issues, and the diagnostics of biodiversity via PCR and DGGE analysis in soils and rocks samples [10, 11]. We will compare the 2009 campaign published results [0-9] to new measurements from 2010-2012 campaigns relevant to the detection of organics and signs of life. 

Keywords: astrobiology, habitability, life detection, field analog research, Earth-Mars, organics 

References:
[0] Foing, Stoker & Ehrenfreund (Editors, 2011) “Astrobiology field Research in Moon/Mars Analogue Environments”, Special Issue of International Journal of Astrobiology, IJA 2011, 10, vol. 3. 137-305 
[1] Foing et al. IJA 2011, 10(3), 141  
[2] Clarke & Stoker IJA 2011, 10(3), 162 
[3] Thiel et al. IJA 2011, 10(3), 177 
[4] Direito et al.. IJA 2011, 10(3), 191 
[5] Orzechowska, G. et al IJA 2011, 10(3), 209 
[6] Kotler et al. IJA 2011, 10(3), 221 
[7] Martins et al. IJA 2011, 10(3), 231 
[8] Ehrenfreund et al. IJA 2011, 10(3), 239 
[9] Stoker et al IJA 2011, 10(3), 269 
[10] Rodrigues et al (2012, in preparation) Preventing biocontamination during sterile sampling 
[11] Rodrigues et al (2012, in preparation)  Microbial diversity in MDRS rocks and soils

Abstract document

IAC-12,A1,5,6,x16202.brief.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-12,A1,5,6,x16202.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

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