1. Methods of Astrobiology By Michael Timmons Analytical/Radio/Nuclear (ARN) Seminar Spring 2006

2. Overview What is COSPAR Requirements for Life Detection Soil Experiments in the Atacama Desert TWEEL and Robotic Soil Analyzer Conclusions

3. COSPAR 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

4. COSPAR Requirements for Life Detection 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

5. Category 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

6. Category 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

7. Category 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

8. Category 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

9. Category 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

10. Atacama 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

11. Microbial 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

12. 1976 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

13. Evidence 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

14. Ideal Instrumentation Design Complies with COSPAR requirements for life detection experiments Minimal sterilization area Allow interchangeable devices for conducting multiple experiments Robust delivery system

15. TWEEL 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)

16. TWEEL EQUIPPED FOR LR/CIRCADIAN RHYTHM/PHOTOSYNTHESIS EXPERIMENT

17. TWEEL 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

18. Robotic Mars Soil Analyzer

19. Conclusion 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

20. References A 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.htmhttp://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