EXTENDED-MIRAS: The instrumental approach for the search of traces of extinct and extant life on Mars, instrument setup

Popp, J.; Tarcea, N.; Baciu, L.; Thomas, N.; Cockell, C.; Edwards, H. W. G.; Gomez-Elvira, J.; Hilchenbach, M.; Hochleitner, Rupert; Hofer, S.; Hoffmann, Viktor H.; Hofmann, B.; Jessberger, E. K.; Kiefer, W.; Martinez-Frias, J.; Maurice, S.; Rull Pérez, F.; Schmitt, M.; Simon, G.; Sobron, F.; Weigand, W.; Whitby, J. A.; Wurz, P. and Battrick, B. (2004): EXTENDED-MIRAS: The instrumental approach for the search of traces of extinct and extant life on Mars, instrument setup. In: European Space Agency, (Special Publication) ESA SP, No. 543

Abstract

Whether there was or is life on Mars is a question of high interest to man. When looking for evidence of present or ancient life on Mars it might be not sufficient to disclose the chemical composition of the surface or subsurface material. Further information concerning for example the morphology of the sample under investigation or the spatial distribution of the observed chemicals or minerals is of similar relevance. So we need a reliable, automated, robust and miniaturized apparatus capable of resolving all the above mentioned problems in one effort. EXTENDED-MIRAS is an instrumental approach combining optical microscopy and micro-Raman spectroscopy with additional elementary characterization methods such as LIPS/LIBS (laser induced plasma spectrometry / laser induced breakdown spectrometry) or LMS (laser mass spectrometry).

• Item Type: Journal article
• Faculties: Geosciences > Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences > Crystallography and Materials Science
• Subjects: 500 Science > 550 Earth sciences and geology
• Language: English