Science Priorities for Mars Sample Return

,

doi:10.1089/ast.2008.0759

Cited by 42 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 111 publications

(91 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…We distinguish between contamination by signals intrinsic to the instrument hardware or method, such as cross-contamination from other samples (MEPAG Next Decade Science Analysis Group, 2008 ), and by spurious signals from the indigenous environments encountered by the sample. The latter are captured in the contextual criterion of reliability ( Section 2.2.3 ).…”

Section: Criteria For a Claim Of Life Detectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Patterns in organic distributions carry weight in deciding whether a suite of measurements precludes an abiotic origin ( #8 ): this feature has been incorporated as an essential aspect of life-detection missions (Anderson et al, 1972; MEPAG Next Decade Science Analysis Group, 2008 ; McKay et al, 2014 ; Reh et al, 2016; Hand et al, 2017). It is generic ( #7 ) and rather easy to detect ( #1 ), although possibly precluded by environmental factors such as the oxidants on the surface of Mars ( #4 ).…”

Section: Features Diagnostic Of Life: the Life Detection Laddermentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

The Ladder of Life Detection

Neveu

Hays

Voytek³

et al. 2018

Astrobiology

194

158

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

We describe the history and features of the Ladder of Life Detection, a tool intended to guide the design of investigations to detect microbial life within the practical constraints of robotic space missions. To build the Ladder, we have drawn from lessons learned from previous attempts at detecting life and derived criteria for a measurement (or suite of measurements) to constitute convincing evidence for indigenous life. We summarize features of life as we know it, how specific they are to life, and how they can be measured, and sort these features in a general sense based on their likelihood of indicating life. Because indigenous life is the hypothesis of last resort in interpreting life-detection measurements, we propose a small but expandable set of decision rules determining whether the abiotic hypothesis is disproved. In light of these rules, we evaluate past and upcoming attempts at life detection. The Ladder of Life Detection is not intended to endorse specific biosignatures or instruments for life-detection measurements, and is by no means a definitive, final product. It is intended as a starting point to stimulate discussion, debate, and further research on the characteristics of life, what constitutes a biosignature, and the means to measure them.

show abstract

Section: Criteria For a Claim Of Life Detectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Features Diagnostic Of Life: the Life Detection Laddermentioning

confidence: 99%

The Ladder of Life Detection

Neveu

Hays

Voytek³

et al. 2018

Astrobiology

194

158

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…According to Borg et al, [6] the Martian soil reflects interactions between the crust and the atmosphere; it gives an indication of the nature of dust, soil particles and also rock fragments. Understanding regolith chemistry and mineralogy is also vital to determining the fate of any organic constituents, Martian or terrestrial.…”

Section: Why Sampling Martian Soilmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The gas in this canister can be used to deliver a few kilograms of regolith, i.e. more than the roughly 60 grams of regolith required for MSR [6]. N 2 used in the collection system can be ultrapure and can be well-characterized for trace gases and isotopic composition before leaving Earth.…”

Section: Feasibility Of the Approachmentioning

confidence: 99%