Exobiology in the Solar System & The Search for Life on Mars - ESA

SP-1231
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obvious delay <strong>in</strong> await<strong>in</strong>g such an event and <strong>the</strong> uncerta<strong>in</strong>ties attend<strong>in</strong>g that endeavour,
<strong>the</strong>re are good reasons <strong>for</strong> per<strong>for</strong>m<strong>in</strong>g a soundly based <strong>in</strong> situ programme of <strong>the</strong>
type set out here. First, <strong>the</strong>re is <strong>the</strong> question of terrestrial carbon contam<strong>in</strong>ation, at <strong>the</strong>
levels detectable <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong>se experiments. We have seen how <strong>the</strong> Apollo lunar samples
became contam<strong>in</strong>ated, despite all of <strong>the</strong> precautions. In situ experiments will
m<strong>in</strong>imise that problem. Apart from that factor, <strong>the</strong> comb<strong>in</strong>ation of on-site analysis and
<strong>the</strong> collection of samples by a mobile system is potentially a very powerful technique,
if used correctly. It becomes possible to target specific types of samples, if required,
or to expand <strong>the</strong> range and diversity. Coupled with a sample return mission, such a
system provides major ga<strong>in</strong>s and can also reduce, by careful selection after analysis,
<strong>the</strong> total amount of samples returned to cover a specified m<strong>in</strong>eralogical range.