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Subsurface microbial habitats on MarsWe developed scenarios for shallow and deep subsurface cryptic niches for microbial life on Mars. Such habitats could have considerably prolonged the persistence of life on Mars as surface conditions became increasingly inhospitable. The scenarios rely on geothermal hot spots existing below the near or deep subsurface of Mars. Recent advances in the comparatively new field of deep subsurface microbiology have revealed previously unsuspected rich aerobic and anaerobic microbal communities far below the surface of the Earth. Such habitats, protected from the grim surface conditions on Mars, could receive warmth from below and maintain water in its liquid state. In addition, geothermally or volcanically reduced gases percolating from below through a microbiologically active zone could provide the reducing power needed for a closed or semi-closed microbial ecosystem to thrive.
Document ID
19920004382
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Boston, P. J.
(Complex Systems Research, Inc., Boulder CO., United States)
Mckay, C. P.
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
September 6, 2013
Publication Date
October 1, 1991
Publication Information
Publication: NASA, Washington, Fourth Symposium on Chemical Evolution and the Origin and Evolution of Life
Subject Category
Space Biology
Accession Number
92N13600
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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