Martian Phyllosilicates- The Eternal Quest for Lifeforms
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Lydia
Site Admin
Posted:
Mon Nov 19, 2007 4:08 pm
Joined: 03 Feb 2004
Posts: 601
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Martian Phyllosilicates- The Eternal Quest for Lifeforms
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Phyllosilicates are hydrated minerals which contain water in their crystalline structure located in regions with clay mineral deposits where it is thought water may have been and areas that may have assisted in biochemical reactions to take place.
It seems that on Earth all primordial biochemistry took place in phyllosilicates.
N.A.S.A. is studying six landing sites for its Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) mission, due for launch in late 2009.
The European Space Agency (Esa) has studied the best places to look for life on Mars and will launch ExoMars in 2013.
What is ExoMars? A robot rover will comb Martian terrain for evidence of past or present life. This mission will cost about one billion Euros.
Potential sites are:
Mawrth Vallis -
a light-coloured clay-rich mineral covered ancient Martial valley
Nili Fossae -
a largely eroded surface fracture partially filled with clay-rich space impact debris
Meridiani Planum -
Located 2 degrees south of the Martian equator, Esa is looking at two different sites on this Martian plain.
Holden Crater -
an ancient Martian lakebed layered with sedimentary deposits
Gale Crater
- exposed layered deposits make this impact crater an area of interest
How will ExoMars be launched?
ExoMars is compatible for Europe's Ariane 5 ECA launcher or Russia's Proton rocket. Politics, however may determine this. Since it is a European mission, the preference is that it is launched aboard a European rocket.
EXOMARS
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