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?

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

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

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

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

Increase in relative humidity to >90%, dips in solar insolation (~350 W/m 2 )

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

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 620 nm indicative of chlorophyll--possible biological material in soil. Negative fluorescence

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. ?

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

…except for one

What is unambiguous confirmation of life? Lines of evidence:strongest case »Visual »Spectra »Fluorescence »Microscopy What is a sample for year 2, for publication? 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)

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

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

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

We are confident that promising habitats with life can be located and confirmed and the distribution of life 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 Birth of an astrobiology rover

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)

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

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