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Preventing the Forward Contamination of Mars (2006) / Chapter Skim
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3 Future Mars Exploration: The Rolling Wave
Pages 36-40

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From page 36...
... Future Mars missions can be expected to identify and study regions on the planet that contain evidence for habitable environments, especially those that indicate the past or current presence of liquid water (MSPSG, 2004)
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From page 37...
... TABLE 3.1 Mars Exploration: Planned Missions and Year and Mission Concepts and Their Objectives Planned Missions and Year Mission Concepts 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2016 2018 2020 Mission MRO NASA MSL; Mars Scout Mars Sample Mars Scout Astrobiology Mars Scout; Phoenix Mars Return Field Deep Drill Scout Telesat or Laboratory Orbiter Astrobiology or Field Deep Drill; Laboratory Network mission Objective Characterize Explore Investigate To be Collect fines, To be Explore a To be the martian the potential competitively rock competitively site competitively surface, geologic habitats selected fragments, selected identified selected subsurface, history for life and as a habitat and and atmosphere for life atmosphere; biological and return identify potential samples Drill potential of the to Earth 3 to 10 m sites for northern to gather future plains of Explore site samples landers Mars identified as habitat Use global for life network of several landers to measure seismology and geochemistry NOTE: This table represents the Mars Exploration Program as conveyed to the committee at the time of its study preparation. Since that time, the program has changed.
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From page 38...
... The 2009 Mars Science Laboratory, a mission designed to explore potential habitats, will use a radioactive thermal generator as a power source, giving the rover the capability to roam distances of 20 km and to visit multiple sites that may include diverse martian environments. Mission concepts have also been proposed for conducting regional Mars exploration, through airborne devices.
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From page 39...
... . The rolling wave of Mars exploration has several implications for preventing the forward contamination of Mars.
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From page 40...
... National Academy Press, Washington, D.C. President's Commission on Implementation of the United States Space Exploration Strategy.
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Key Terms

  • microbial contamination
  • forward contamination
  • mars exploration
  • protection policies
  • future mars

  • microbial density
  • biological contamination
  • mars missions
  • mars science
  • science laboratory

  • scientific findings
  • national academy
  • bioburden requirement


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