One of the most difficult Mars missions ever, will be the Sample Return Mission., returning to earth collected samples from several places on the martian surface , in order to analyze them in detail. (see NASA audio conference). Results of the extreme - environment biology - research will flow into the selective procedures, which specify and choose promising landing areas. Further topics are biologic entities hidden in ecological Mars niches and papers about Mars climate and climate changes in the past.
What happened to Mars?
Thursday, April 29, 2010
WHERE SHOULD WE GO ON MARS TO SEEK SIGNS OF LIFE?
2:00 p.m. Crystal Salon A
This session will focus on the geology and mineralogy most likely to preserve signs of martian life (if any), the evidence for such geology and mineralogy on Mars, and possible targets for future landed missions.
2:45 p.m. Noffke N. *
The Search for Life in the Aquatic Sandy Deposits of Mars: The Criteria for Biogeneicity of Microbially Induced Sedimentary Structures [#5039]
This contribution is a recommendation to the Mars Rover research teams, how to search for modern and ancient microbenthos in the on Mars so common clastic sediments and se-dimentary rocks.
3:00 p.m. Allen C. C. * Oehler D. Z.
Mud Volcanoes as Exploration Targets on Mars [#5172]
Mud volcanoes transport sediments from depth, which could contain chemical biomarkers, mineral biosignatures, or structural remains from past life. We propose that the mud volcanoes in Acidalia may offer a new class of exploration target for Mars.
3:15 p.m. BREAK
3:30 p.m. Levy J. S. * Head J. W. Marchant D. R.
Martian Debris-cvovered Glaciers: Seeking „Signs of Life“ in a ~100 My Old Deep-Freeze [#5059]
Martian debris-covered glaciers should be considered as landing sites in the search for biosignatures, as they represent large volumes of non-polar ice, with a wide regional distribution, unique bio-preservation potential, and intermediate age.
Monday, April 26, 2010
POSTER SESSION: HOW AND WHERE SHOULD WE SEEK SIGNS OF LIFE ON MARS?
6:00 p.m. Marina Plaza Ballroom
Brown I. I. Allen C. C. Tringe S. G. Klatt C. G. Bryant D. A. Sarkisova S. A. Garrison D. H. Mckay D. S.
Microbial Diversity in Surface Iron-rich Aqueous Environments: Implications for Seeking Signs of Life on Mars [#5468]
Comparative analysis of the diversity of organisms in near neutral and acidified Fe-rich water bodies suggests that near neutral iron depositing hot springs have greater potential to preserve extinct or extant life on Mars.
Bonaccorsi R. McKay C. P.
Fairén A. G. Gago-Duport L. Davila A. F. Gil C. McKay C. P.
Subsurface Diffusion of Salt-forming Cations on Early Mars [#5502]
Primeval salt-forming cations were buried under the surface of Mars by diffusion mechanisms, therefore inhibiting the precipitation of sedimentary salts together with phyllosilicates.
Fries M. D. Bhartia R. Beegle L. W. Gursel Y. Mungas G. S.
Allen M. Mischna M. A. Richardson M. I. Newman C. E. Toigo A. D.
The Surface Source of an Atmospheric Trace Gas Plume [#5334]
Trace gases in the atmosphere of Mars can be signatures of subsurface activity, either geological or biological in character. A habitable zone or even an oasis of life may be located below the surface source of such a trace gas.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
A WARM, WET MARS?
2:00 p.m. Crystal Salon A
Moderator: Alex Pavlov
Dialogers: Brian Toon
Jim Kasting
The discussion will focus on the nature of early Mars' climate and habitability — whether liquid features on the ancient surface of Mars required warm wet climate or intense episodic heating (impacts, giant volcanic eruptions). Is it possible to pull martian climate to warm temperatures with a combination of different greenhouse gases? Or are impacts as a short-term warming mechanism. The debate will stress the limitations and uncertainties of the climate models.
3:30 p.m. BREAK
Thursday, April 29, 2010
HABITABILITY POTENTIAL OF MARS
8:00 a.m. Crystal Salon A
This session explores the habitability of Mars, past and present.
The session will shed light on the possible presence of life on the Red Planet based on latest mission results, relevant analog studies, and promising localities on Mars.
Chairs: Dirk Schulze-Makuch
Alfonso Davila
8:00 a.m. Gibson E. K. * McKay D. S. Thomas-Keprta K. L. Clemett S. J.
Early Mars: A Warm Wet Niche for Life [#5062]
The first 600 My of martian history were ripe for life to develop. Standing bodies of water, precipitation and flowing surface and subsurface water and possibly abundant hydrothermal energy would favor the formation of early life.
8:15 a.m. Fernández-Remolar D. C. * Sánchez-Román M. Hill A. Amils R. Prieto-Ballesteros O. Gómez-Ortíz D. Fernández-Sampedro F. Martín-Redondo M. P.
Global Formation of Carbonates as Indicators of Habitability Emergence on Early Earth and its Implications for Mars [#5324]
Carbonate occurrence on Earth is used to characterize the possible potential habitats and its associated microbial life on early Mars.
8:45 a.m. Devila A. F. * Duport L. G. Melchiorri R. Jänchen J. Valea S. de los Rios A. Fairén A. G. Möhlmann D. McKay C. P. Ascaso C. Wierzchos J.
Hygroscopic Salts: A Habitat for Microorganisms on Mars [#5049]
Hygroscopic salts provide habitable conditions in the driest deserts on Earth. Similar deposits have been identified on Mars and could represent present day habitats.
9:00 a.m. Houtkooper J. M. * Schulze-Makuch D.
Xerophiles on Mars: Possible Evolutionary Strategies Using Hydrogen Peroxide and Perchlorates [#5382]
The Phoenix Lander found surprising amounts of perchlorate salts in the Martian arctic soil. The low water activity and low freezing temperature of a saturated solution of these salts are compatible with putative H2O2-H2O based xerophiles.
9:15 a.m. Renno N. O. * Zorzano M.-P.
Do Brines make the Viking 2 Landing Site Habitable? [#5092]
Renno et al. showed direct evidence that brines are present on Mars’ Arctic. Here we show that brines are also present on mid-latitudes and that this implies that the Viking 2 landing site might have liquid water, one of the key ingredients for life.
9:45 a.m. Archer P. D. Jr * Imanaka H. Smith M. A. Boynton W. V. Smith P. H.
We show that certain types of organic molecules that might exist on Mars are resistant to UV photolysis. Data obtained by thermal decomposition of irradiated organic molecules could help constrain the chemical composition of Martian organics.
10:30 a.m. Stoker C. R. *
The Habitability of the Phoenix Landing Site: An Evaluation of Mission Results [#5553]
A key objective of the Phoenix mission was to search for a habitable zone. Mission results are used to evaluate the Phoenix site habitability that compares favorably to other sites on Mars. Results show a follow on mission to search for evidence of life is warranted.
10:45 a.m. Chevrier V. F. *
Phyllosilicates, Carbonates, Methane and the Habitability of Nili Fossae on Early Mars [#5180]
Mineral transformations with temperature and CO2 fugacity show that serpentinization affected the primitive crust in the Nili Fossae region, and was accompanied by carbonation and early methane release, making this active environment ideal for life.
11:00 a.m. Wang A. * Freeman J. J. Bell J. F. III Jolliff B. L.
Potential Habitable Zone Within the Subsurface of Equatorial Regions on Mars [#5400]
Spectral changes of salty soils at Gusev suggested a RH gradient within the subsurface, while lab experiments reveal wide stability fields for highly hydrated sulfates at low T-PH2O. A potentially habitable zone may exist in the subsurface on Mars.
11:15 a.m. Jones E. G. Lineweaver C. H. *
The Habitability Potential of Mars [#5178]
We are developing a pressure-temperature model for Mars to identify where the environments are on Mars that may have liquid water and be able to support terrestrial life.
11:30 a.m. Ivarsson M. * Lindgren P.
The Search for Sustainable Subsurface Habitats on Mars[#5123]
Subsurface environments have been targeted as plausible settings for the search for a present or a fossil record of life on Mars, since the current conditions on the martian surface are extremely hostile to life.
11:45 a.m. Boston P. J. * Spilde M. N. Northup D. E. Curry M. D. Melim L. A. Rosales-Lagarde L.
Seekers of Life Below the Surface of Mars[#5346]
Biologically influenced speleothems (biothems) and microbial breakdown products (speleosols) display a set of important unifying properties with predictive power for the subsurface systems of unknown worlds.
12:15 p.m. Des Marais D. J. * Allwood A. C. MEPAG MRR-SAG Team
The Proposed 2018 MAX-C Rover: Exploring for Signs of Life and Caching Samples for Potential Return [#5532]
The Mars Astrobiology Explorer-Cacher (MAX-C) is envisioned as a potential mission to the surface of Mars in 2018 to explore a formerly habitable environment and to collect samples for potential return to Earth by a subsequent mission.
12:30 p.m. LUNCH
Brines = sal****er
DO BRINES MAKE THE VIKING 2 LANDING SITE HABITABLE?Nilton O. Renno1 and Maria Paz Zorzano2,
1University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA, 2Centro de Astrobiología (CSIC-INTA), Carretera de Ajalvir Km
4, 28850 Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid, Spain, renno@alum.mit.edu, zorzanomm@inta.es
Introduction: Salts with extremely low
eutectic temperatures appear to be distributed globally
on Mars [1-6]. Renno et al. [2, 3] showed direct evidence
that these salts absorb water vapor from the
Martian atmosphere and deliquesce. In addition, they
showed observational and theoretical evidence that
freeze-thaw cycles concentrate these salts into eutectic
mixtures and lead to the formation of brine layers a
few centimeters below the surface (Fig. 1).
Zorzano et al. [4] showed that even sodium
perchlorate, a salt with moderately low eutectic
temperature, absorbs water from the air or frost and
forms stable liquid aqueous solutions under the
environmental conditions of the Martian Arctic. …... Here we argue that this
implies that the Viking 2 landing site might have liquid
water, one of the key ingredients for life.
....
Since a thin layer of soil forms a barrier
against sublimation and there is evidence that brines
melt even on Mars’ polar region [2-4],brines can melt
in mid-latitudes and form stable liquid solutions in
regions with atmospheric water column values of ~10
pr-μm, that is approximately ½ the value required for
clear-ice to be stable [8]. …...Conclusions: The discovery of brines on
Mars’ polar region and the evidence for brines in midlatitudes
are significant because they suggest that deliquescence
and therefore liquid saline water is ubiquitous
on Mars.........Indeed, these findings
suggest that liquid saline water could be present a
few centimeters below the surface on the Viking 2
landing site. Therefore this site could have one of the
essential ingredients for life as we know it.
TO SEARCH FOR LIFE ON MARS: FOLLOW THE BRINES. Nilton O. Rennó1, Helga Stan-Lotter2, Eörs
Szathmáry3, D.T.F. Möhlmann4, 1University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA; 2University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria;
3Collegium Budapest, Budapest, Hungary; 4DLR Institut für Planetenforschung, Berlin, Germany,
