An integrated exobiology package for the search for life on Mars
| Autor: | Gian Gabriele Ori, C. Pillinger, Frances Westall, Nicolas Thomas, Gero Kurat, Beda A. Hofmann, Brian Fitton, James R. Maxwell, André Brack, Paul Clancy, Gerda Horneck, François Raulin |
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| Rok vydání: | 1999 |
| Předmět: |
Atmospheric Science
Molecular composition Environment analysis Mars landing Aerospace Engineering Astronomy and Astrophysics Life on Mars Astrobiology Geophysics Extant taxon Space and Planetary Science Radiation budget General Earth and Planetary Sciences Environmental science Microscopic Inspection Surface oxidation |
| Zdroj: | Advances in Space Research. 23:301-308 |
| ISSN: | 0273-1177 |
| DOI: | 10.1016/s0273-1177(99)00051-4 |
| Popis: | A multi-user integrated suite of instruments designed to optimize the search for evidence of life on Mars is described. The package includes: • ∗ Surface inspection and surface environment analysis to identify the potential Mars landing sites, to inspect the surface geology and mineralogy, to search for visible surficial microbial macrofossils, to study the surface radiation budget and surface oxidation processes, to search for niches for extant life. • ∗ Analysis of surface and subsurface minerals and organics to characterize the surface mineralogy, to analyse the surface and subsurface oxidants, to analyze the mineralogy of subsurface aliquots, to analyze the organics present in the subsurface aliquots (elemental and molecular composition, isotopes, chirality). • ∗ Macroscopic and microscopic inspection of subsurface aliquots to search for life's indicators (paleontological, biological, mineralogical) and to characterize the mineralogy of the subsurface aliquots. The study is led by ESA Manned Spaceflight and Microgravity Directorate. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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