The search for life on Mars and in the Solar System – Strategies, logistics and infrastructures
- Paper number
IAC-18,A1,6,12,x44662
- Author
Dr. Jean-Pierre Paul de Vera, Germany, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Berlin
- Coauthor
Dr. Daniela Billi, Italy, University of Rome "Tor Vergata"
- Coauthor
Dr. Ute Böttger, Germany, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Berlin
- Coauthor
Dr. Sergey Bulat, Russian Federation
- Coauthor
Prof. Markus Czupalla, Germany, FH Aachen University of Applied Sciences
- Coauthor
Prof. Bernd Dachwald, Germany, FH Aachen University of Applied Sciences
- Coauthor
Ms. Rosa De la Torre, Spain, Instituto Nacional de Tecnica Aeroespacial (INTA)
- Coauthor
Dr. Andreas Elsaesser, Germany, Free University of Berlin
- Coauthor
Mr. Hartmut Korsitzky, Germany, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Berlin
- Coauthor
Dr. Natalia Kozyrovska, Ukraine
- Coauthor
Dr. Andreas Läufer, Germany
- Coauthor
Dr. Ralf Moeller, Germany, Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. (DLR)
- Coauthor
Dr. Karen Olsson-Francis, United Kingdom, Open University
- Coauthor
Prof. Silvano Onofri, Italy
- Coauthor
Dr. Stefan Sommer, Germany
- Coauthor
Prof. Dirk Wagner, Germany, Geoforschungszentrum Potsdam
- Coauthor
Dr. Frances Westall, France, Centre National de La Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)
- Year
2018
- Abstract
The question "Are we alone?" is perhaps the most fundamental that affects mankind (after that of the origin of the Universe). How can we address the search for life in our Solar System? Mars, Enceladus and Europa are the focus of the search for life outside the terrestrial biosphere. While it is more likely to find remnants of life (fossils of extinct life) on Mars because of its past short time window of the surface habitability, it is probably more likely to find traces of extant life on the icy moons and ocean worlds of Jupiter and Saturn. Nevertheless, even on Mars there could still be a chance to find extant life in niches near to the surface. Different approaches for the detection of traces of life in the form of biosignatures including pre-biotic molecules will be presented. We will show which infrastructure is needed for this enterprise and give examples of future mission concepts to investigate the presence of life on other planets and moons. Finally we will provide suggestions on methods, techniques, operations and strategies for preparation and realization of future life detection missions.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-18,A1,6,12,x44662.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
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