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2010 Annual Science Report

University of Wisconsin Reporting  |  SEP 2009 – AUG 2010

Project 5A: Astrobiology Studies at the Utah Mars Desert Research Station in Support of Current and Future Mars Missions

Project Summary

Pascale Ehrenfreund participated to Crew #77 at the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS) in Utah in February 2009. The MDRS project was initiated by the Mars Society in 2000 and consists of a habitat complex optimized for a 6-person crew and includes a greenhouse and astronomical observatory. The goal of this field campaign sponsored by ESA, NASA and the international lunar exploration working group (ILEWG) was to demonstrate instrument capabilities in support of current and future planetary missions, to validate a procedure for Martian surface in-situ and return science, and to study human performance aspects. Special emphasis was given to sample collection in the geologically rich vicinity of MDRS and subsequent analysis of organic molecules and microorganisms in the soil to simulate the search for life with field instrumentation.

4 Institutions
3 Teams
14 Publications
1 Field Site
Field Sites

Project Progress

Crew 77 at MDRS has collected soil samples from different locations and depths and investigated those soils in the MDRS laboratory with Terra XRD/XRF (X-ray diffraction/X-ray fluorescence) from InXitu Inc. and a Raman InPhotonics (LAS-750-300 Class 3b embedded Diode Laser, 785 nm wavelength, 300 mW max continuous wave energy) instrument. Furthermore we measured some soil properties including pH value and elemental composition of Ca, K, P, Mg, and nitrate. Salt concentrations were also estimated by obtaining soil conductivity data. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was successfully used for the in-situ analysis of microbial communities. Post-analysis included the investigation of microbial diversity and the analysis of the mineral matrix of planetary soil analogs from the Utah desert. Culture-independent molecular analyses directed at ribosomal RNA genes revealed the presence of all three domains of life (Archaea, Bacteria and Eukarya).

Post-analysis of sterile collected selected samples from 10 different location at the vicinity of MDRS have been performed using Solid Phase Microextraction (SPME) and Gas Chromatography/ Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) to extract and measure polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, X-ray diffraction and infrared spectroscopy to determine the mineral content, laser desorption mass spectrometry to understand the high molecular carbon fraction and investigation about the relative contributions of different phyla groups to microbial communities. Table 1 shows the variety in mineralogy as analyzed by X-ray diffraction.

Table 1: X-ray diffraction data of Utah soil samples (relative abundance in %) (Martins et al. 2010).

NAI_AR_Wisconsin_Mars_Ehrenfreund_Figure1

Astrobiology studies at the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS) Utah. Field research was conducted to demonstrate instrument capabilities in support of current and future Mars missions. Special emphasis was given to sample collection in the geologically rich vicinity of MDRS and subsequent analysis of organic molecules and life in the soil to simulate the search for life with field instrumentation. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) was successfully applied in-situ at MDRS and showed the presence of species from all three domains.

A main goal for this field research program is to understand the relation of mineral matrix, organic fraction and biota in the soil.

The main scientific finding include

  • low abundances of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
  • presence of macromolecular matter (kerogen)
  • strong diversity of mineralogy (clay, quartz and gypsum)
  • presence of biota of all three domains with significant heterogeneity
  • extraordinary wide variety of extremophiles, mainly from the domain Bacteria but also Archaea

The data will be compiled in a special issue of the International Journal of Astrobiology.

Publications

  • Ehrenfreund, P., & Foing, B. H. (2010). Fullerenes and Cosmic Carbon. Science, 329(5996), 1159–1160. doi:10.1126/science.1194855

  • Ehrenfreund, P., Peter, N., & Billings, L. (2010). Building long-term constituencies for space exploration: The challenge of raising public awareness and engagement in the United States and in Europe. Acta Astronautica, 67(3-4), 502–512. doi:10.1016/j.actaastro.2010.03.002

  • Ehrenfreund, P., Peter, N., Schrogl, K. U., & Logsdon, J. M. (2010). Cross-cultural management supporting global space exploration. Acta Astronautica, 66(1-2), 245–256. doi:10.1016/j.actaastro.2009.05.030

  • Ehrenfreund, P., Spaans, M., & Holm, N. G. (2011). The evolution of organic matter in space. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences, 369(1936), 538–554. doi:10.1098/rsta.2010.0231

  • Halasinski, T. M., Ruiterkamp, R., Salama, F., Foing, B. H., & Ehrenfreund, P. (2011). C 84 : A Prototype of Larger Fullerenes. Laboratory Spectroscopy and Astronomical Relevance. Fullerenes, Nanotubes and Carbon Nanostructures, 19(5), 398–409. doi:10.1080/15363831003721807

  • Peeters, Z., Quinn, R., Martins, Z., Sephton, M. A., Becker, L., Van Loosdrecht, M. C. M., … Ehrenfreund, P. (2009). Habitability on planetary surfaces: interdisciplinary preparation phase for future Mars missions. International Journal of Astrobiology, 8(04), 301. doi:10.1017/s1473550409990140

  • Peeters, Z., Vos, D., Ten Kate, I. L., Selch, F., Van Sluis, C. A., Sorokin, D. Y., … Ehrenfreund, P. (2010). Survival and death of the haloarchaeon Natronorubrum strain HG-1 in a simulated martian environment. Advances in Space Research, 46(9), 1149–1155. doi:10.1016/j.asr.2010.05.025

  • Woellert, K., Ehrenfreund, P., Ricco, A. J., & Hertzfeld, H. (2011). Cubesats: Cost-effective science and technology platforms for emerging and developing nations. Advances in Space Research, 47(4), 663–684. doi:10.1016/j.asr.2010.10.009

  • Chung, S., Ehrenfreund, P., Rummel, J. & Peter, N.  (2010).  Synergies of space exploration and Earth science.  Advances in Space Research, 45(155-168).
  • Ehrenfreund, P. & Cami, J.  (2010).  Cosmic carbon chemistry: from the interstellar medium to the early Earth.  In: Szostak, D.D.&.J. (Eds.).  The origin of Life.
  • Ehrenfreund, P., Spaans, M. & Holm, N.  (2010, In Press).  “The evolution of organic matter in space”, Philosophical Transactions A.  Royal Society Meeting: The detection of extraterrestrial life and the consequences for science and society.
  • P. Ehrenfreund et al.  (2010).  Toward a Global Space Exploration Program: A Stepping Stone Approach.  COSPAR Panel on Exploration Report.  Paris.
  • Rummel, J., Ehrenfreund, P. & N. Peter, N.  (2009).  COSPAR Workshop on Planetary Protection for Outer Planet Satellites and Small Solar System Bodies.  Paris.
  • Rummel, J., Raulin, F. & Ehrenfreund, P.  (2010).  COSPAR Workshop on Planetary Protection for Titan and Ganymede.  COSPAR Report.  Paris.