Methods of Astrobiology

By

Michael TimmonsAnalytical/Radio/Nuclear (ARN)

Seminar Spring 2006

Overview Overview

• What is COSPAR

• Requirements for Life Detection

• Soil Experiments in the Atacama Desert

• TWEEL and Robotic Soil Analyzer

• Conclusions

COSPARCOSPAR

• COMMITTEE ON SPACE RESEARCH

• Established in 1958 by the International Council for Science

• Objectives are the progress of all kinds of research carried out with the use of space means

• Strives to promote the use of space science for the benefit of mankind

COSPAR Requirements for Life COSPAR Requirements for Life Detection ExperimentsDetection Experiments

• Guidelines to avoid the harmful contamination and also adverse changes in the environment of the Earth resulting from the introduction of extraterrestrial matter

• Planetary protection policy, both as an international standard on procedures to avoid organic-constituent and biological contamination in space exploration

• Five Categories of requirements

Category ICategory I

• Includes any mission to a target body which is not of direct interest for understanding the process of chemical evolution or the origin of life.

• No protection of such bodies is warranted and no planetary protection requirements are imposed by this policy

Category IICategory II

• Missions to those target bodies where there is interest relative to the process of chemical evolution and the origin of life

• Only a remote chance that contamination carried by a spacecraft could jeopardize future exploration

Category IIICategory III

• Missions (mostly flyby and orbiter) to a target body of chemical evolution and/or origin of life

• Significant chance of contamination which could jeopardize a future biological experiment

Category IVCategory IV

• Missions (mostly probe and lander) to a target body of chemical evolution and/or origin of life

• Significant chance of contamination which could jeopardize future biological experiments

Category VCategory V

• Comprise all Earth‑return missions

• Concern is the protection of the terrestrial system, the Earth and the Moon

• Requirements that encompass those of Category IV plus a continual monitoring of project activities, sterilization procedures and containment techniques

Atacama DesertAtacama Desert

• Located in Northern Chile

• Known as the driest place on Earth

• A series of dry salt basins

• Rain has never been recorded in some localities

• Virtually sterile environment

• Location used by NASA to test instruments for future Mars missions

Microbial Life in AtacamaMicrobial Life in Atacama

• Recently discovered low numbers of bacteria and recoverable bacterial DNA

• Results demonstrate the existence of life in one of the driest regions on Earth

• Mars, like the Atacama Desert, might be conducive to microbial life

• Findings suggest techniques that might be used during future Mars missions

1976 Viking Missions to Mars1976 Viking Missions to Mars

• Provided strong evidence for microbial life

• Shortcomings of the missions:

The huge expense of sterilizing the entire spacecraft to protect the integrity of life detection experiments

The lack of a practical robotic life detection package

Evidence for Life on MarsEvidence for Life on Mars

• Ice lies tens of centimeters beneath the surface of wide areas of Mars

• Meteorites have provided evidence of past life forms

• Discovery of extremophiles, such as in Atacama, demonstrates that many terrestrial microbial forms can withstand environmental extremes

Ideal Instrumentation DesignIdeal Instrumentation Design

• Complies with COSPAR requirements for life detection experiments

• Minimal sterilization area

• Allow interchangeable devices for conducting multiple experiments

• Robust delivery system

TWEELTWEEL

• Twin Wireless Extraterrestrial Experiment for Life

• An ejectable probe sheathed within its own cylindrical case fixed within the canister

• Each individual TWEEL contains the equipment for a variety of experiments (i.e. pH, temperature, water sensors)

An

te

nn

a

Sco

op

Deceleration-activated

penetrationcontroller

FM

R

ad

ioB

atte

ry

Ampoule

Ba

tte

ry

Te

st C

ham

be

rSpring-retainedair vent

WhiteLED

Baffle

Detector

Pro

gram

me

r

Evolvedgas counting

space

Extended Position

Light pipe/diffuser

An

te

nn

a

Sco

op

Deceleration-activated

penetrationcontroller

FM

R

ad

ioB

atte

ry

Ampoule

Ba

tte

ry

Te

st C

ham

be

rSpring-retainedair vent

WhiteLED

Baffle

Detector

Pro

gram

me

r

Evolvedgas counting

space

Extended Position

Light pipe/diffuser

TWEEL EQUIPPED FOR LR/CIRCADIAN RHYTHM/PHOTOSYNTHESIS

EXPERIMENT

TWEEL OperationTWEEL Operation

• TWEELs are aerodynamically designed so that their noses impact first

• The depth of penetration is controlled by flanges that deploy upon impact

• TWEEL launches may be simultaneous or individual

• Each TWEEL has internal two-way radio communication with the lander

TWEELs

SterileCanister

LaunchCharge

PopCover

3-D GimbaledRotating Platform

PlatformDetente

Wind Vane

TWEELs

SterileCanister

LaunchCharge

PopCover

3-D GimbaledRotating Platform

PlatformDetente

Wind Vane

Robotic Mars Soil AnalyzerRobotic Mars Soil Analyzer

ConclusionConclusion

• The Robotic Soil Analyzer provides a simple, low-cost, and convenient method for testing Martian soil

• Adheres to COSPAR requirements for life detection experiments

• Provides multi-experiment conditions

• The samples excavated by the TWEELs are pristine

ReferencesReferencesA sterile robotic Mars soil analyzer, Gilbert V. Levin, Joseph D. Miller, Patricia Ann Straat, and Richard E. Hoover, Spherix Incorporated,

University of Southern California, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, http://mars.spherix.com/SPIE_2002_FINAL.htm

Rafael Navarro-González, Fred A. Rainey, Christopher P. McKay, Science, vol. 306 (2004)

R. M. Maier, K. P. Drees, J.W. Neilson, D. A. Henderson, J. Quade, J. L. Betancourt, Reports, p. 1018 (2003)

G. M. Colores, R. E. Macur, D. M.Ward,W. P. Inskeep, Appl. Environ.Microbiol. 66, 2959 (2000)

5. M. J. Ferris, G. Muyzer, D. M. Ward, Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 62, 340 (1996)

R. Navarro-González et al., Int. J.Astrobiol., suppl. 1, p. 82 (2004)

http://www.cosparhq.org/

http://www.cosparhq.org/scistr/PPPolicy.htm

http://sunsite.dcc.uchile.cl/chile/turismo/atacama.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atacama

http://www.space.com/news/spacehistory/viking_life_010728-1.html

http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/mars/exploring/viking_overview.html&edu=high