An Astrobiology Strategy for the Exploration of Mars (2007) / Chapter Skim
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Executive Summary
Executive Summary
Pages 1-10
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An Astrobiology Strategy for the EXPLORATION of MARS
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. This image and the lead figure in each chapter have been selected to illustrate the geological diversity of the martian environment.
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Against this backdrop, NASA's Science Mission Directorate requested the Space Studies Board's assistance in developing an up-to-date integrated astrobiology strategy for Mars exploration that brings together all the threads of this diverse topic into a single source for science mission planning. In particular, NASA asked that the strategy developed by the Committee on an Astrobiology Strategy for the Exploration of Mars address the following topics: • he characteristics of potential targets for Mars exploration particularly suited for elucidating the prebiotic T and possibly biotic history of Mars, and methods for identifying these targets; • catalog of biosignatures that reflect fundamental and universal characteristics of life (i.e., not limited to A an Earth-centric perspective)
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The astrobiology science goals for the exploration of Mars extend beyond the search for present and past life to encompass an understanding of the geological and environmental context that determines planetary habitability; habitability is defined as a general term referring to the potential of an environment (past or present) to support microbial life of any kind.
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Useful science analysis of martian surface samples can be carried out either in situ on the martian surface or in terrestrial laboratories with samples returned to Earth. Although in situ missions have many advantages, sample return offers the opportunity to carry out many more analyses on a sample than can be done in situ, to follow up exciting measurements with additional measurements that had not previously been anticipated, and to make measurements or observations using instruments that are not amenable to being accommodated on a lander or rover mission or that were not available at the time of mission development.
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can be done with the data sets now available or imminently available from currently active missions. Many of the types of sites listed above as being important for in situ investigation pertinent to ancient or recent life are not confined to the low latitudes and/or low altitudes accessible with current entry, descent, and landing technologies.
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The lack of a comprehensive understanding of all of the potential biosignatures for Mars exploration means that NASA should employ a combination of techniques that utilize both Earthcentric and non-Earth-centric approaches that focus on the basic concepts in carbon chemistry, imaging, mineral assemblages, and isotopic measurements. Specific aspects of carbon chemistry that should be investigated include the following: • The presence of polymers based on repeating universal subunits; • atterns in the carbon isotopic compositions of organic molecules that reflect organized polymerization of P smaller subunits or precursors; • Patterns in the carbon numbers of organic compounds; and • he presence of carbon compounds that have only a subset of the possible connectivities or atomic spatial T arrangements (i.e., just a few structural isomers or stereoisomers and/or strong chiral preferences)
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Finding. Sample return should be seen as a program that NASA and the Mars science community have already embarked upon rather than as a single, highly complex, costly, and risky mission that is to occur at some future time.
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If it is not feasible to proceed directly toward sample return, then a more gradual approach should be implemented that involves sample caching on all surface missions that follow the Mars Science Laboratory, in a way that would prepare for a relatively early return of samples to Earth. If a commitment is not made for sample return, then high-priority, astrobiologically relevant science still can be done on Mars with missions such as the Astrobiology Field Laboratory or the Mid Rovers, provided that they are instrumented appropriately.
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