The NASA Mars 2020 Rover Mission and the Search for Extraterrestrial Life

Williford, Kenneth H.; Farley, Kenneth A.; Stack, K. M.; Allwood, Abigail; Beaty, D. W.; Beegle, L. W.; Bhartia, R.; Brown, Adrian; Juárez, Manuel de la Torre; Hamran, Svein‐Erik; Hecht, Michael H.; Hurowitz, J. A.; Rodríguez‐Manfredi, J. A.; Maurice, S.; Milkovich, S. M.; Wiens, R. C.

doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-809935-3.00010-4

Cited by 119 publications

(94 citation statements)

References 78 publications

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“…Two upcoming robotic missions, NASA Mars 2020 (Williford et al, 2018) and ESA ExoMars 2020 (Vago et al, 2017), will employ space flight instruments based on Near InfraRed (NIR) vibrational spectroscopy to inspect the presence of organic matter at the respective landing sites. Specifically, Mars 2020 will be equipped with a remote-sensing instrument located on the "head" of the rover's mast, SuperCam, which is a combined remote-sensing instrument implementing several techniques (Wiens et al, 2017): Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) (1064 nm laser), to measure elemental composition of targets up to 7 m distance from the rover; Raman (532 nm laser), Time-Resolved Fluorescence (TRF), visible and Near InfraRed (NIR) reflectance spectroscopy (in the spectral ranges 400-900 nm and 1.3-2.6 µm, respectively), to investigate mineralogy and presence of possible organics.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

UV Irradiation and Near Infrared Characterization of Laboratory Mars Soil Analog Samples: the case of Phthalic Acid, Adenosine 5’-Monophosphate, L-Glutamic Acid and L-Phenylalanine Adsorbed onto the Clay Mineral Montmorillonite in the Presence of Magnesium Perchlorate

Fornaro¹,

Brucato²,

Poggiali³

et al. 2020

Preprint

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The search for molecular biosignatures at the surface of Mars is complicated by an intense irradiation in the mid- and near- ultraviolet (UV) spectral range for several reasons: (i) many astrobiologically relevant molecules are electronically excited by efficient absorption of UV radiation and rapidly undergo photochemical reactions; (ii) even though the penetration depth of UV radiation is limited, aeolian erosion continually exposes fresh material to radiation; and (iii) UV irradiation generates strong oxidants such as perchlorates that can penetrate deep into soils and cause subsurface oxidative degradation of organics.As a consequence, it is crucial to investigate the effects of UV radiation on organic molecules embedded in mineral matrices mimicking the martian soil, in order to validate hypotheses about the nature of the organic compounds detected so far at the surface of Mars by the Curiosity rover, as well as organics that will be possibly found by the next rover missions Mars 2020 and ExoMars 2020. In addition, studying the alteration of possible molecular biosignatures in the martian environment will help to redefine the molecular targets for life detection missions and devise suitable detection methods.Here we report the results of mid-UV irradiation experiments of Mars soil analog samples obtained adsorbing relevant organic molecules on a clay mineral that is quite common on Mars, i.e. montmorillonite, doped with 1 wt% of magnesium perchlorate. Specifically, we chose to investigate the photostability of a plausible precursor of the chlorohydrocarbons detected on Mars by the Curiosity rover, namely phthalic acid, along with the biomarkers of extant life L-phenylalanine and L-glutamic acid, which are proteomic amino acids, and adenosine 5’-monophosphate, which is a nucleic acid component.We monitored the degradation of these molecules adsorbed on montmorillonite through in situ spectroscopic analysis, investigating the reflectance properties of the samples in the Near InfraRed (NIR) spectral region. Such spectroscopic characterization of molecular alteration products provides support for two upcoming robotic missions to Mars that will employ NIR spectroscopy to look for molecular biosignatures, through the instruments SuperCam on board Mars 2020, ISEM, Ma_Miss and MicrOmega on board ExoMars 2020.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

UV Irradiation and Near Infrared Characterization of Laboratory Mars Soil Analog Samples: the case of Phthalic Acid, Adenosine 5’-Monophosphate, L-Glutamic Acid and L-Phenylalanine Adsorbed onto the Clay Mineral Montmorillonite in the Presence of Magnesium Perchlorate

Fornaro¹,

Brucato²,

Poggiali³

et al. 2020

Preprint

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“…The Sample Analysis at Mars instrument suite on the MSL Rover, which constituted a gas chromatograph and mass and laser spectrometers, led to the discovery of organic compounds such as methane [99], organic sulfur molecules [46], chlorobenzene, and C 2 and C 4 chloroalkanes [45]. The new NASA Mars 2020 rover is based on the design of the MSL with certain improvements and carries seven instruments, including an advanced camera system (Mastcam-Z), Mars Environmental Dynamics Analyzer (MEDA), Mars Oxygen ISRU Experiment, Planetary Instrument for X-Ray Litochemistry (PIXL), Radar Imager for Mars' Subsurface Exploration (RIMFAX), UV Raman spectrometer SHERLOCK, and a SuperCam [177]. With these instruments on board, the goals of the Mars 2020 mission are to search for signs of past microbial habitats and any associated biosignatures, collect samples and prepare them for their return mission to Earth, and assess oxygen production in Martian conditions in preparation for a future human mission.…”

Section: Considerations For Future Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Habitability of Mars: How Welcoming Are the Surface and Subsurface to Life on the Red Planet?

Sielaff

Smith

2019

Geosciences

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Mars is a planet of great interest in the search for signatures of past or present life beyond Earth. The years of research, and more advanced instrumentation, have yielded a lot of evidence which may be considered by the scientific community as proof of past or present habitability of Mars. Recent discoveries including seasonal methane releases and a subglacial lake are exciting, yet challenging findings. Concurrently, laboratory and environmental studies on the limits of microbial life in extreme environments on Earth broaden our knowledge of the possibility of Mars habitability. In this review, we aim to: (1) Discuss the characteristics of the Martian surface and subsurface that may be conducive to habitability either in the past or at present; (2) discuss laboratory-based studies on Earth that provide us with discoveries on the limits of life; and (3) summarize the current state of knowledge in terms of direction for future research.

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“…I n situ instruments on Mars landers and rovers have enabled unprecedented fine scale investigations of the mineralogy (Klingelhöfer et al, 2003;Christensen et al, 2004;Blake et al, 2012), chemistry/geochemistry (Toulmin et al, 1977;Rieder et al, 2003;Kounaves et al, 2010;Wiens et al, 2012), rock/regolith textures (Edgett et al, 2012;Bell et al, 2013), and organic carbon (Summons et al, 2013). The upcoming NASA Mars 2020 (Williford, 2018) and ESA ExoMars Rover (Vago et al, 2006) missions will fly instruments that will provide ground-breaking in situ sensing capabilities and facilitate more detailed fine scale detection and analysis of chemical elements, minerals, and organic compounds than ever before.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dalangtan Saline Playa in a Hyperarid Region of Tibet Plateua-III: Correlated Multiscale Surface Mineralogy and Geochemistry Survey

Sobrón¹,

Wang²,

Mayer³

et al. 2018

Preprint

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We report the first multiscale, systematic field-based testing of correlations between orbital scale advanced spaceborne thermal emission and reflection radiometer visible near-infrared (VNIR)/shortwave infrared (SWIR) reflectance and thermal infrared relative emissivity and outcrop scale Raman spectroscopy, VNIR reflectance, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) mineralogy and chemistry in a saline dry lakebed. This article is one of three reports describing the evolution of salt deposits, meteorological record, and surface and subsurface salt mineralogy in Dalangtan, Qaidam Basin, a hyperarid region of the Tibet Plateau, China, as potential environmental, mineralogical, and biogeochemical analogues to Mars. We have successfully bridged remote sensing data to fine scale mineralogy and chemistry data. We have defined spectral end-members in the northwestern Qaidam Basin and classified areas within the study area on the basis of their spectral similarity to the spectral end-members. Results of VNIR/SWIR classification reveal zonation of spectral units within three large anticlinal domes in the study area that can be correlated between the three structures. Laboratory Raman, VNIR reflectance, XRD, and LIBS data of surface mineral samples collected along a traverse over Xiaoliangshan (XLS) indicate that the surface is dominated by gypsum, Mg sulfates, Na sulfates, halite, and carbonates, with minor concentrations of illite present in most samples as well. Our results can be used as a first step toward better characterizing the potential of orbital reflectance spectroscopy as a method for mineral detection and quantification in salt-rich planetary environments, with the benefit that this technique can be validated on the ground using instruments onboard rovers.

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The NASA Mars 2020 Rover Mission and the Search for Extraterrestrial Life

Cited by 119 publications

References 78 publications

UV Irradiation and Near Infrared Characterization of Laboratory Mars Soil Analog Samples: the case of Phthalic Acid, Adenosine 5’-Monophosphate, L-Glutamic Acid and L-Phenylalanine Adsorbed onto the Clay Mineral Montmorillonite in the Presence of Magnesium Perchlorate

UV Irradiation and Near Infrared Characterization of Laboratory Mars Soil Analog Samples: the case of Phthalic Acid, Adenosine 5’-Monophosphate, L-Glutamic Acid and L-Phenylalanine Adsorbed onto the Clay Mineral Montmorillonite in the Presence of Magnesium Perchlorate

Habitability of Mars: How Welcoming Are the Surface and Subsurface to Life on the Red Planet?

Dalangtan Saline Playa in a Hyperarid Region of Tibet Plateua-III: Correlated Multiscale Surface Mineralogy and Geochemistry Survey

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The NASA Mars 2020 Rover Mission and the Search for Extraterrestrial Life

Cited by 119 publications

References 78 publications

UV Irradiation and Near Infrared Characterization of Laboratory Mars Soil Analog Samples: the case of Phthalic Acid, Adenosine 5&rsquo;-Monophosphate, L-Glutamic Acid and L-Phenylalanine Adsorbed onto the Clay Mineral Montmorillonite in the Presence of Magnesium Perchlorate

UV Irradiation and Near Infrared Characterization of Laboratory Mars Soil Analog Samples: the case of Phthalic Acid, Adenosine 5&rsquo;-Monophosphate, L-Glutamic Acid and L-Phenylalanine Adsorbed onto the Clay Mineral Montmorillonite in the Presence of Magnesium Perchlorate

Habitability of Mars: How Welcoming Are the Surface and Subsurface to Life on the Red Planet?

Dalangtan Saline Playa in a Hyperarid Region of Tibet Plateua-III: Correlated Multiscale Surface Mineralogy and Geochemistry Survey

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Product

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UV Irradiation and Near Infrared Characterization of Laboratory Mars Soil Analog Samples: the case of Phthalic Acid, Adenosine 5’-Monophosphate, L-Glutamic Acid and L-Phenylalanine Adsorbed onto the Clay Mineral Montmorillonite in the Presence of Magnesium Perchlorate

UV Irradiation and Near Infrared Characterization of Laboratory Mars Soil Analog Samples: the case of Phthalic Acid, Adenosine 5’-Monophosphate, L-Glutamic Acid and L-Phenylalanine Adsorbed onto the Clay Mineral Montmorillonite in the Presence of Magnesium Perchlorate