Mars analogues for space exploration

Paper number

IAC-16,A1,5,2,x32946

Coauthor

Dr. Petra Rettberg, Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. (DLR), Germany

Coauthor

Prof. Charles Cockell, United Kingdom

Coauthor

Dr. Kristina Beblo-Vranesevic, Deutsches Zentrum fur Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. (DLR), Germany

Coauthor

Ms. Maria Bohmeier, DLR Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. (DLR), Germany

Coauthor

Dr. Elke Rabbow, Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. (DLR), Germany

Coauthor

Dr. Petra Schwendner, University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Coauthor

Dr. Frances Westall, Centre National de La Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), France

Coauthor

Dr. Frederic Gaboyer, France

Coauthor

Mr. Nicolas Walter, France

Coauthor

Prof. Christine Moissl-Eichinger, Austria

Coauthor

Mrs. Alexandra Perras, Austria

Coauthor

Mr. Felipe Gomez, Spain

Coauthor

Prof. Ricardo Amils, INTA - Centro de Astrobiologia, Spain

Coauthor

Mrs. Laura Garcia, Spain

Coauthor

Dr. Pascale Ehrenfreund, Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. (DLR), Germany

Coauthor

Dr. Euan Monaghan, The Netherlands

Coauthor

Dr. Viggo Marteinsson, Iceland

Coauthor

Dr. Pauline Vannier, Iceland

Year

2016

Abstract

Searching for life on extraterrestrial planets is the goal of many space missions. Especially our neighbour planet Mars is of astrobiological interest. Assessing the habitability of Mars and detecting life, if it was ever there, depends on our knowledge about Earth organisms and their capability to survive the combined environmental stresses experienced on Mars. Samples from different Mars analogue areas on Earth were collected and anaerobic microorganisms adapted to these extreme conditions were isolated. These new strains were subjected to mars-relevant environmental stress factors alone and in combination in the laboratory under controlled conditions, e.g. radiation, high salt concentrations, low water activity, oxidising compounds. The aim is to find out, if these organisms are also able to survive under Martian conditions. So far, eight only distantly related  microorganisms are under detailed investigation. The limiting  factor for many but not all of these new strains is the exposure to desiccating conditions. Some strains survive surprisingly well. Some are also resistant against radiation or perchlorates. The future experiments aim at the identification of the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms and the comparison to other new isolates from Mars analogue environments on Earth in the MASE project.


Acknowledgement: MASE is supported by European Community’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013) under Grant Agreement n° 607297.

Abstract document

IAC-16,A1,5,2,x32946.brief.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-16,A1,5,2,x32946.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

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