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A New Analysis of Mars 'Special Regions': Findings of the Second MEPAG Special Regions Science Analysis Group (SR-SAG2)
- Source :
- Astrobiology. 14:887-968
- Publication Year :
- 2014
- Publisher :
- Mary Ann Liebert Inc, 2014.
-
Abstract
- A committee of the Mars Exploration Program Analysis Group (MEPAG) has reviewed and updated the description of Special Regions on Mars as places where terrestrial organisms might replicate (per the COSPAR Planetary Protection Policy). This review and update was conducted by an international team (SR-SAG2) drawn from both the biological science and Mars exploration communities, focused on understanding when and where Special Regions could occur. The study applied recently available data about martian environments and about terrestrial organisms, building on a previous analysis of Mars Special Regions (2006) undertaken by a similar team. Since then, a new body of highly relevant information has been generated from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (launched in 2005) and Phoenix (2007) and data from Mars Express and the twin Mars Exploration Rovers (all 2003). Results have also been gleaned from the Mars Science Laboratory (launched in 2011). In addition to Mars data, there is a considerable body of new data regarding the known environmental limits to life on Earth-including the potential for terrestrial microbial life to survive and replicate under martian environmental conditions. The SR-SAG2 analysis has included an examination of new Mars models relevant to natural environmental variation in water activity and temperature; a review and reconsideration of the current parameters used to define Special Regions; and updated maps and descriptions of the martian environments recommended for treatment as "Uncertain" or "Special" as natural features or those potentially formed by the influence of future landed spacecraft. Significant changes in our knowledge of the capabilities of terrestrial organisms and the existence of possibly habitable martian environments have led to a new appreciation of where Mars Special Regions may be identified and protected. The SR-SAG also considered the impact of Special Regions on potential future human missions to Mars, both as locations of potential resources and as places that should not be inadvertently contaminated by human activity.
- Subjects :
- Extraterrestrial Environment
Planetary protection
Ultraviolet Rays
Mars
Exploration resources
Exploration of Mars
law.invention
Astrobiology
Mars astrobiology
Orbiter
law
Yeasts
Exobiology
Humans
Spacecraft
Martian
Microbial Viability
Committee on Space Research
Bacteria
Geography
biology
Ice
Fungi
Water
Mars Exploration Program
Space Flight
biology.organism_classification
Agricultural and Biological Sciences (miscellaneous)
Cold Temperature
Oxygen
Extreme environment microbiology
Space and Planetary Science
Martian environments
Thermodynamics
Energy Metabolism
Phoenix
Cell Division
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 15578070 and 15311074
- Volume :
- 14
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Astrobiology
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....8c566b89979c60e509020c2ccf5ff8ad