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Astrobiology Science Results

Astrobiology Science Results. Three key microhabitats (but may be others) Salt (“hydrated sulfates,” gypsum) Lithophytic (outcrops, desert pavement, pebbles) Soils. Main habitats identified: hydrated sulfates, gypsum (i.e., salts). Let’s go here!!. Are these bands microbial?.

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Astrobiology Science Results

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  1. Astrobiology Science Results • Three key microhabitats (but may be others) • Salt (“hydrated sulfates,” gypsum) • Lithophytic (outcrops, desert pavement, pebbles) • Soils

  2. Main habitats identified: hydrated sulfates, gypsum (i.e., salts) Let’s go here!! Are these bands microbial?

  3. Main habitat: lithophytic Desert varnishes, caliches Mafic? stones, pebbles “black gobi”

  4. Main habitat: soils Iron-oxide containing materials, hydrated sulfates, clays, carbonates, hydroxylated materials, among others (e.g. volcanics?) desert crust? high winds?

  5. Evidence for water: surface and/or groundwater? Possible collapse, terraces, holes? Sol 4 pan 007-R Furrows, holes, drainages, ripple marks? Sol 4 pan 029-R Wadis? Sol 4 seq 3-f-c

  6. Evidence for clouds/fog: moisture Sol 3 pan 163-R Sol 3 pan 115-R Sol 3 pan 210-R Sol 3 pan 176-R

  7. Increase in relative humidity to >90%,dips in solar insolation (~350 W/m2)

  8. Samples—Confirmation of life? • ~25 full samples collected, 9 others with 1-2 instruments • 12 spectra showed chlorophyll signatures

  9. Complete full sample: sample 1 • Spectra results: ferric iron-bearing material, possibly hydrated & hydroxylated (hematite or goerthite?) • High resolution image of sample • Presence of slight inflection @ 620 nm indicative ofchlorophyll--possible biological material in soil. • Negative fluorescence

  10. Confusing: sample 2 • What we do know: spectra results: 1) Ferric iron/iron oxide-bearing material, signatures show hydrated sulfates features; no inflection at 620 nm; 2) fluorescence negative • What we don’t know: Cannot verify what was sampled. ?

  11. Fluorescence Science Results • None of the samples could be confirmed unambiguously for life.

  12. …except for one

  13. Astrobiology sampling strategies • What is unambiguous confirmation of life? • Lines of evidence:strongest case • Visual • Spectra • Fluorescence • Microscopy • What is a sample for year 2, for publication?

  14. Astrobiology sampling strategies • Precision (targeted) and distance (random/periodic) sampling strategies need to be refined • when to use what instruments • subsampling (optimal use of images,etc. vs. bandwidth) • Follow the water - How can we better accomplish this? (e.g., feed environmental data into search modes, location of features)

  15. THE TEMPLATE: SHORT AND LONG RANGE TARGETS = Water target = Life target THIS END POINT IS FROM THE DEM THIS BECOMES THE NEW PAN = HIGH PRIORITY THESE TARGETS ARE FROM THE PAN HIGH PRIORITY RANDOM ALONG ECOLOGICAL TRANSECT HIGH PRIORITY TARGETED

  16. Data collection, processing, archiving Recommendations: • Need a consistent sample collection, naming, processing, and archiving system • we can’t assume anything (remote or field) • strive for consistency & convergence • Red/yellow/green light system • Learn each other’s languages: roverspeak, sciencespeak

  17. Science Ops We need to improve logistics—identified necessary improvements (data processing, workstations, protocols, support personnel, internet access, etc.) Most important Question of year 1: Why was science team unable to unambiguously confirm life? Some answers: fluorescence, convergence

  18. Birth of an astrobiology rover • We are confident that promising habitats with life can be located and confirmed and the distribution oflife can be mapped successfully with Hyperion!! • But, we didn’t find life in an easy place…for a biologist the remote experience was not equal to being in the field

  19. Rover ops & design wish list • Automated analysis by rover with results arriving with first pans (e.g, science utility function, such as albedo, voids in rocks, fluorescence, spectra)—may eliminate need to backtrack • Pan/high resolution capabilities (0.2pixels) • Zoom: high resolution images of “samples” not only microhabitats • More moisture sensors (including soil)

  20. Rover operations & design • Rock-n-rolling • Methods for rover marking sample locations or biologically promising habitats along the way-RED FLAGS

  21. Postcard from the Atacama,Sunset, sol 3 April 23, 2003 Thanks Team!!!

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