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Mars Rover Sample Return: A sample collection and analysis strategy for exobiologyFor reasons defined elsewhere it is reasonable to search for biological signatures, both chemical and morphological, of extinct life on Mars. Life on Earth requries the presence of liquid water, therefore, it is important to explore sites on Mars where standing bodies of water may have once existed. Outcrops of layered deposits within the Valles Marineris appear to be ancient lake beds. Because the outcrops are well exposed, relatively shallow core samples would be very informative. The most important biological signature to detect would be organics, microfossils, or larger stromato-like structures, although the presence of cherts, carbonates, clays, and shales would be significant. In spite of the limitations of current robotics and pattern recognition, and the limitations of rover power, computation, Earth communication bandwidth, and time delays, a partial scenario was developed to implement such a scientific investigation. The rover instrumentation and the procedures and decisions and IR spectrometer are described in detail. Preliminary results from a collaborative effort are described, which indicate the rover will be able to autonomously detect stratification, and hence will ease the interpretation burden and lead to greater scientific productivity during the rover's lifetime.
Document ID
19890016996
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Sims, M. H. (NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Fischler, M. (NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Schwartz, D. E. (NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Rosenthal, Donald A. (NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Mancinelli, Rocco L. (NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Nedell, Susan S. (NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Gamble, E. (NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Mckay, Christopher P. (NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
September 6, 2013
Publication Date
March 1, 1989
Publication Information
Publication: Exobiology and Future Mars Missions
Subject Category
Space Biology
Accession Number
89N26367
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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