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The Search for Life on Mars Ray P Carvell, Mark R Sims, Mark a Sephton and Lindsay Dannatt*

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The Search for Life on Mars Ray P Carvell, Mark R Sims, Mark a Sephton and Lindsay Dannatt* 6446 scientific&parliamentary summer 08 8/7/08 10:31 Page 15 The Search for Life on Mars Ray P Carvell, Mark R Sims, Mark A Sephton and Lindsay Dannatt* For centuries, humans have been follow. This note provides an overview Why look for life underground? fascinated by the possibility of life on of ExoMars and discusses the benefits other planets. Recent robotic of the UK’s involvement. During the Martian day, the surface spacecraft have given us tantalizing of Mars is exposed to intense hints that primitive life may have Background ultraviolet light from the Sun which passes easily through the thin existed – or, perhaps, still exists – on The origins of ExoMars go back to Martian atmosphere. During the our neighbouring planet, Mars. The 2000 when ESA began studies for a European Space Agency set up the Martian night, the surface drops to mission which would land a rover on -100°C or even colder. These long-term Aurora Programme in 2001 the surface of Mars. This rover was to conditions are not conducive to life. (see Box 1) and its first mission, carry a sophisticated automatic ExoMars, will be presented for laboratory capable of detecting and However, there is a more benign approval to the ESA Ministerial analysing traces of life, both present environment a few centimetres Council in November 2008. The main and past. In 2006, ESA awarded a below the surface where ultraviolet light cannot penetrate and the scientific objective of ExoMars is to design contract for the ExoMars temperatures are less extreme. More establish whether life on Mars has ever mission to Thales Alenia Space, Italy, importantly, data from instruments existed or is still active today. The with a major subcontract for the rover technological and scientific on board spacecraft in orbit around going to Astrium UK. In the same Mars strongly suggest that large developments required to make year, a provisional selection of quantities of water ice exists in the ExoMars possible have already started scientific instruments was made porous layer of soil some 30 to 60 to deliver commercial benefits for the which, in addition to life detection centimetres beneath the surface in UK with the promise of many more to instruments, included instruments to some areas. It is known that some measure the Martian environment. UK types of organisms live successfully scientists are leading four of the 23 in very similar conditions on Earth. What is the Aurora Programme? scientific instruments and are heavily The ExoMars drill is mounted on The Aurora Programme is part of involved in the design of seven others. the rover and will deliver samples Europe’s strategy for space which The design phase is well advanced and from below the surface to the was endorsed by the European it is expected that manufacturing will rover’s life detection and Union Council of Research and the start early in 2010. characterization instruments. ESA Council in 2001. This strategy calls for Europe to: The Mission • explore the Solar System and the ExoMars will be ESA’s second mission from ESA’s spaceport in French Guiana Universe to Mars and will build on the expertise in November 2013, followed by a • stimulate new technology gained from its 2003 predecessor, landing, using parachutes and airbags, Mars Express Orbiter which itself has on Mars in late 2015. The exact • inspire the young people of Europe to take a greater interest been spectacularly successful but landing date will be chosen after in science and technology carried the ill-fated Beagle 2 lander. It ExoMars goes into orbit around Mars will be launched on an Ariane 5 rocket in order to avoid Martian dust storms. The primary objective of the Aurora Programme is a European long- term plan for the robotic and human exploration of the Solar Getting to Mars System. ExoMars is the first in a series of Aurora missions that will Mars is a ‘near neighbour’ of the Earth but, even at its closest, it is 35 million lead to the return to Earth of a miles away and landing a spacecraft on its surface is not at all routine. To date, sample from Mars. The UK is there have been 10 attempts to land spacecraft on Mars and only 5 have been playing a leading role in ExoMars successful – including 3 since 2003. Just 2 carried rovers. So far Europe has and the Aurora programme. made only one attempt at landing on Mars. *Ray P Carvell, Brightwell Instruments Ltd, Sotwell Street, Wallingford, Oxfordshire OX10 0RH. Mark R Sims, Space Research Centre, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH. Mark A Sephton, Earth Science and Engineering, South Kensington Campus, Imperial College London, SW7 2AZ. Lindsay Dannatt, Science and Technology Facilities Council, North Star Avenue, Swindon, SN2 1SZ. 12 Science in Parliament Vol 65 No 3 Summer 2008 6446 scientific&parliamentary summer 08 8/7/08 10:31 Page 16 In addition to the rover with its • 3D multimedia technologies that will These are applicable to many other cameras, exobiology laboratory and create new virtual reality experiences industries. drill for collecting samples from up to of planetary exploration for research, 2 metres below the surface where life outreach and commercial At least 100 scientists will study the is thought most likely to be found, the exploitation. data collected by ExoMars which, in ExoMars lander will carry an addition to answering the key environmental and geophysics science • Highly innovative miniaturised scientific questions, will be used to station. instrumentation using low- plan future Aurora missions. temperature catalysts that are needed The rover and lander instruments are for the future biotechnology The Future designed to collect scientific data for at industry. ExoMars is the first in a series of least 6 months after landing and may missions that will lead to the return to last much longer depending on the • New solvent systems that provide flexible, safe and economic Earth of a sample from Mars and, in severity of the conditions encountered the more distant future, perhaps a on the Martian surface. extraction procedures so that industries of the future can operate manned mission. The instruments and The Science in a clean environment. technologies which are being developed for ExoMars are stepping- ExoMars is expected to answer • Advanced fluid dynamics stones for these later missions. important questions including: simulations of ExoMars’ entry into The People • Has there ever been life on Mars? the Martian atmosphere that will improve operational tools for ExoMars’ ground-breaking science and • What is the present day environment modelling high-speed flight on engineering will inspire and encourage on Mars? Earth. the next generation to become the • Has Mars ever had an environment Key parts of the mission including the highly skilled scientists and engineers that could support life? rover are being built by UK industry. which Britain will need in the future. • How has the Martian environment The rover will be the most In support of this, an outreach changed over time? sophisticated exploration vehicle on programme involving schools, colleges Mars and the first to use a drill and • How do planets form and evolve? and the general public is being radar to explore beneath the planet’s planned with some pilot work already Answers to these questions will surface. under way. increase our understanding of the The Skills uniqueness – or otherwise – of life on The Funding Earth, within our Solar System and in In the UK, over 16 companies and 18 The UK’s involvement in ExoMars is the Universe. research institutions are presently funded by the Science and Technology involved in ExoMars. It is anticipated The Technology Facilities Council, one of the UK's that over 250 UK engineers, seven research councils, and a partner UK industry and scientists are working technicians and scientists will be in the British National Space Centre, in partnership to deliver commercial employed on this mission. A wide which co-ordinates the UK’s civil space benefits for the UK from ExoMars and range of high-level skills are needed activities. As Aurora is an optional the Aurora programme. Examples including electronic engineering, programme of ESA, the level of return include: mechanical engineering, thermal (industrial and science) to the UK is engineering, robotics, software design, dependant on the level of funding. • Unmanned vehicle technologies that materials science, microbiology, Currently the UK is the second largest can be applied to situations here on contamination control, systems contributor after Italy. Earth in remote, unstructured or engineering, product assurance and hazardous environments. international project management. Further information about the Aurora Programme and ExoMars can be found at : http://www.scitech.ac.uk/SciProg/Aurora/auroraHome.aspx http://www.esa.int/esaMI/Aurora/ Further information about water ice on Mars can be found at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7294767.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/2009318.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/120270.stm http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=mars-odysseys-measurement Science in Parliament Vol 65 No 3 Summer 2008 13.
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