Field astrobiology research in Moon–Mars analogue environments: instruments and methods

Foing, B. H.; Stoker, C.; Zavaleta, J.; Ehrenfreund, P.; Sarrazin, P.; Blake, D. F.; Page, J.; Pletser, Vladimir; Hendrikse, Jeffrey; Direito, M.S. Oliveira Lebre; Kotler, Mónica Lidia; Martins, Zita; Orzechowska, G. E.; Thiel, Cora S.; Clarke, Jonathan; Gross, C.; Wendt, L.; Borst, A.; Peters, Stefan T.M.; Wilhelm, Mary Beth; Davies, Gareth R.; Team, Ilewg EuroGeoMars

doi:10.1017/s1473550411000036

Cited by 31 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 48 publications

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“…In order to assess several human and scientific aspects of future robotic and manned missions on planetary surfaces, the EuroGeoMars campaign was performed as part of the ExoGeoLab pilot project developed at ESTEC/ESA (European Space Agency) in collaboration with ILEWG, NASA Ames and European and US investigators (Foing 2009;Ehrenfreund et al 2010;Foing et al 2010;Ehrenfreund et al 2011;Foing et al 2011) at the Mars Desert Research Station. The MDRS is a Mars analogue research station ( Fig.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

PCR-based analysis of microbial communities during the EuroGeoMars campaign at Mars Desert Research Station, Utah

Thiel

Ehrenfreund

Foing

et al. 2011

International Journal of Astrobiology

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Abstract:The search for evidence of past or present life on Mars will require the detection of markers that indicate the presence of life. Because deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is found in all known living organisms, it is considered to be a 'biosignature' of life. The main function of DNA is the long-term storage of genetic information, which is passed on from generation to generation as hereditary material. The Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) is a revolutionary technique which allows a single fragment or a small number of fragments of a DNA molecule to be amplified millions of times, making it possible to detect minimal traces of DNA. The compactness of the contemporary PCR instruments makes routine sample analysis possible with a minimum amount of laboratory space. Furthermore the technique is effective, robust and straightforward. Our goal was to establish a routine for the detection of DNA from micro-organisms using the PCR technique during the EuroGeoMars simulation campaign. This took place at the Mars Society's Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS) in Utah in February 2009 (organized with the support of the International Lunar Exploration Working Group (ILEWG), NASA Ames and the European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC)). During the MDRS simulation, we showed that it is possible to establish a minimal molecular biology lab in the habitat for the immediate on-site analysis of samples by PCR after sample collection. Soil and water samples were taken at different locations and soil depths. The sample analysis was started immediately after the crew returned to the habitat laboratory. DNA was isolated from micro-organisms and used as a template for PCR analysis of the highly conserved ribosomal DNA to identify representatives of the different groups of micro-organisms (bacteria, archaea and eukarya). The PCR products were visualized by agarose gel electrophoresis and documented by transillumination and digital imaging. The microbial diversity in the collected samples was analysed with respect to sampling depth and the presence or absence of vegetation. For the first time, we have demonstrated that it is possible to perform direct on-site DNA analysis by PCR at MDRS, a simulated planetary habitat in an extreme environment that serves as a model for preparation and optimization of techniques to be used for future Mars exploration.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

PCR-based analysis of microbial communities during the EuroGeoMars campaign at Mars Desert Research Station, Utah

Thiel

Ehrenfreund

Foing

et al. 2011

International Journal of Astrobiology

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“…Through the study of terrestrial analogues, we gain crucial information with respect to the ability of organisms to survive extreme conditions, as well as to the limits of life on Earth [Fairén et al, 2010]. Previous studies already analyzed microbial populations on Mars analogue environments [e.g., Fernández-Remolar et al, 2005;Clarke, 2006;Edwards et al, 2007;Fernández-Remolar et al, 2008;Foing et al, 2011;Fernández-Remolar et al, 2013]. The Atacama desert, considered one of the most similar places on Earth to Mars [Navarro-González et al, 2003], contains endolithic microorganisms within halite rocks [Wierzchos et al, 2006].…”

Section: Habitabilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

The western Qaidam Basin as a potential Martian environmental analogue: An overview

Anglés

2017

JGR Planets

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The early Martian environment is interpreted as warmer and wetter, before a significant change in its global climatic conditions irreversibly led to the current hyperarid environments. This transition is one of the most intriguing processes of Martian history. The extreme climatic change is preserved in the salt deposits, desiccated landscapes, and geomorphological structures that were shaped by the evaporation of water. However, until a manned journey to Mars is feasible, many Martian materials, morphological structures, and much of its evolutionary history will continue to be poorly understood. In this regard, searching and investigating Martian analogues are still meaningful. To find an Earth environment with a whole set of Martian structures distributed at a scale comparable to Mars is even more important to test landing crafts and provide optimized working parameters for rovers. The western Qaidam Basin in North Tibetan Plateau is such a Martian analogue. The area harbors one of the most extreme hyperarid environments on Earth and contains a series of ancient lakes that evaporated at different evolutionary stages during the rise of the Tibetan Plateau. Large quantities of salts and geomorphological features formed during the transition of warmer‐and‐wet to colder‐and‐dry conditions provide unique references to study the modern Martian surface and interpret the orbital data. We present numerous similarities and results of investigations that suggest the Qaidam Basin as a potential analogue to study modern geomorphic processes on Mars, and suggest that this is an essential site to test future Mars sample return missions.

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“…acidity, salinity, etc) [22]. It would also provide a platform to link otherwise separate geobiology research with human space exploration research, following the example of the ongoing Mars Desert Research Station in Utah, USA [53,54].…”

Section: Recommendationmentioning

confidence: 99%

An ESA roadmap for geobiology in space exploration

Cousins

Cockell

2016

Acta Astronautica

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Geobiology, and in particular mineral–microbe interactions, has a significant role to play in current and future space exploration. This includes the search for biosignatures in extraterrestrial environments, and the human exploration of space. Microorganisms can be exploited to advance such exploration, such as through biomining, maintenance of life-support systems, and testing of life-detection instrumentation. In view of these potential applications, a European Space Agency (ESA) Topical Team “Geobiology in Space Exploration” was developed to explore these applications, and identify research avenues to be investigated to support this endeavour. Through community workshops, a roadmap was produced, with which to define future research directions via a set of 15 recommendations spanning three key areas: Science, Technology, and Community. These roadmap recommendations identify the need for research into: (1) new terrestrial space-analogue environments; (2) community level microbial–mineral interactions; (3) response of biofilms to the space environment; (4) enzymatic and biochemical mineral interaction; (5) technical refinement of instrumentation for space-based microbiology experiments, including precursor flight tests; (6) integration of existing ground-based planetary simulation facilities; (7) integration of fieldsite biogeography with laboratory- and field-based research; (8) modification of existing planetary instruments for new geobiological investigations; (9) development ofin situsample preparation techniques; (10) miniaturisation of existing analytical methods, such as DNA sequencing technology; (11) new sensor technology to analyse chemical interaction in small volume samples; (12) development of reusable Lunar and Near Earth Object experimental platforms; (13) utility of Earth-based research to enable the realistic pursuit of extraterrestrial biosignatures; (14) terrestrial benefits and technological spin-off from existing and future space-based geobiology investigations; and (15) new communication avenues between space agencies and terrestrial research organisations to enable this impact to be developed. Christian Schröder contributed to this publication as part of the Geobiology in Space Exploration Topical Team. The team is comprised of Oliver Angerer, Casey Bryce, Charles Cockell, Claire Cousins, David Cullen, Rosa de la Torre, Jean-Pierre de Vera, Kai Finister, Bernard Foing, Gerhard Kminek, Sydney Leach, Kirsi Lehto, Natalie Leys, Jennifer Ngo-Anh, Karen Olsson-Francis, Silvano Onofri, Gian Grabiele Ori, Sam Payler, Elke Rabbow, Petra Rettberg, Toby Samuels, Christian Schröder, Rob Van Houdt, Jack van Loon, Ronnie Willaert, Laura Zuccion

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Field astrobiology research in Moon–Mars analogue environments: instruments and methods

Cited by 31 publications

References 48 publications

PCR-based analysis of microbial communities during the EuroGeoMars campaign at Mars Desert Research Station, Utah

PCR-based analysis of microbial communities during the EuroGeoMars campaign at Mars Desert Research Station, Utah

The western Qaidam Basin as a potential Martian environmental analogue: An overview

An ESA roadmap for geobiology in space exploration

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