Astrobiology and geochemistry from Mars terrestrial analogues: field measurements and analysis of returned samples

Paper number

IAC-15,A3,3A,8,x31178

Author

Prof. Bernard Foing, ESA/ESTEC, The Netherlands

Year

2015

Abstract

We conducted a series of field research campaigns (ILEWG EuroMoon-Mars campaigns 2009 to 2013) in the extreme environment of the Utah desert and other terrestrial Mars analogues relevant to habitability and astrobiology. We discuss results relevant to the preparation of future lander and sample return missions. We deployed at Mars Desert Research station, Utah, a suite of instruments and techniques including sample collection, context imaging from remote to local and microscale, drilling, spectrometers and life sensors. We analyzed returned samples in the laboratory using diverse techniques. A protocol was developed for sterile sampling, contamination issues, and the diagnostics of biodiversity. We discuss the relation between mineral composition, organics, environments, microbiology .  We compare measurements from 2009-2014 and most recent 2014-2015 campaigns. 

References [1-11] in Foing, Stoker Ehrenfreund (Editors, 2011) \Astrobiology fifield Research in Moon/Mars
Analogue Environments", Special Issue of International Journal of Astrobiology , IJA 2011, 10, vol. 3. 137-305


ILEWG EuroMoonMars Team: B.H. Foing (1, 2, 6), C. Stoker (3), P. Ehrenfreund (4, 5), J. Flahaut (2), I. Rammos
(2), L. Rodrigues (2), A. Svendsen (2), D. Oltheten (2), K. Nebergall (6), M. Battler (6, 7), H. v't Houd
(8), A. Bruneau (6,9), M. Cross (6,7), V. Maivald (10), C. Orgel (6), A. Elsaesser (4), S.O.L. Direito (2,4),
W.F.M. Roling (2), G.R. Davies (2); (1) ESA/ ESTEC, Postbus 299, 2200 AG Noordwik, NL; (2) Vrije
Universiteit, Amsterdam, Faculty of Earth Life Sciences, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, NL;
(3) NASA Ames Research Centre; US; (4) Leiden Institute of Chemistry, NL; (5) Space Policy Institute,
GWU, Washington D.C., USA; (6) ILEWG; (7) CPSX; (8) Cerberus Blackshore, ESIC Noordwijk, NL;
(9) ENSC Bordeaux; (10) DLR, Bremen

Abstract document

IAC-15,A3,3A,8,x31178.brief.pdf

Manuscript document

(absent)