Scientists have long known that fungi are resilient, but a new study suggests that some strains might survive every step of the long, brutal trip to Mars.
Mars 2020
Posted inBiosignatures & Paleobiology, Fossils & Paleontology, Missions & Hardware, Planetary Protection & Biosafety, Robotics/Rovers/UAVs, Sample Return, Status Report
Martian Samples, Hazards, And Biosecurity: Between Science And Bioethics
The fact that life-pastor present-has not been detected on Mars does not mean that it does not exist there. Indeed, the article is quite precise in highlighting that “a special […]
Posted inExploration Gear & Tech, Missions & Hardware, NASA Astrobiology Program, Planetary Protection & Biosafety, Reports, Roadmaps, & Plans, Sample Return, Status Report
NASA TPS Capability for Astrobiology Missions – NASA-DARES 2025 White Paper
Topic 2 Response to 2025 NASA DARES RFI Jonathan Morgan, NASA Ames Research Center (ARC-TSM)Peter Marshall, NASA Ames Research Center (ARC-TSM) The two kinds of science missions that support Astrobiology […]
Posted inGenomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Microbiology & Virology, Missions & Hardware, Panspermia, Planetary Protection & Biosafety, Robotics/Rovers/UAVs, Sample Return, Status Report
Unveiling Hidden Microbial Diversity in Mars 2020 Mission Assembly Cleanrooms with Molecular Insights into the Persistent and Perseverance of Novel Species Defying Metagenome Sequencing
Due to strict cleaning procedures and nutrient-scarce conditions, aerospace industrial cleanrooms – which are essential for assembling space mission components – contain low microbial burdens but are tough to eradicate.
Posted inBiosignatures & Paleobiology, Mars, Missions & Hardware, Panspermia, Robotics/Rovers/UAVs, Sample Return, Status Report
Mars Sample Return: From Collection To Curation Of Samples From A Habitable World
NASA’s Mars 2020 mission has initiated collection of samples from Mars’ Jezero Crater, which has a wide range of ancient rocks and rock types from lavas to lacustrine sedimentary rocks. […]
![(A) X-ray fluorescence composite map. Red color shows P abundance, green shows Mg abundance, and blue shows Si abundance. White circles outline areas analyzed by ACRONM. White arrows indicate matrix and clasts that contain nanometer-to-micrometer scale phosphate detectable by EDX-TEM only [shown in (B)].](https://i0.wp.com/astrobiology.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Inorganic-Interpretation-of-Luminescent.png?resize=1200%2C721&ssl=1)
Posted inAstrogeology, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Mars, Missions & Hardware, Robotics/Rovers/UAVs, Sample Return, Status Report
Inorganic Interpretation of Luminescent Materials Encountered by the Perseverance Rover on Mars
A major objective of the Mars 2020 mission is to sample rocks in Jezero crater that may preserve organic matter for later return to Earth.
Posted inBiosignatures & Paleobiology, Commercial & Private Sector, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Microbiology & Virology, Missions & Hardware, Nanotechnology & SynBio, Planetary Protection & Biosafety, Status Report
An Astrobiology Spinoff? Microbe Recovered From Mars 2020 Cleanroom May Have Commercial Applications
During microbial surveillance of the Mars 2020 spacecraft assembly facility, two novel bacterial strains, potentially capable of producing lasso peptides, were identified.
Posted inAnalog Studies, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exploration Gear & Tech, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Missions & Hardware, Status Report, Tricorders & Sensors
Tricorder Tech: Developing a Microfluidic Device to Perform Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy Analysis in Future Astrobiology Missions
The main advantage of Raman spectroscopy over competing analytical instruments used in robotic planetary missions is the capability to identify both organic and inorganic molecules.
Posted inExploration Gear & Tech, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Mars, Missions & Hardware, Press Release, Robotics/Rovers/UAVs
Astrobiology Droid Traverse Planning Via Open Science Mars Mapping
Combining images from orbit with images from the surface, a JPL-developed tool allows researchers to zoom in to see individual boulders and zoom out to see all of Mars.
Posted inAway Teams & Field Reports, Exploration Gear & Tech, Habitable Zones, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Mars, Missions & Hardware, Press Release, Robotics/Rovers/UAVs, Sample Return, Tricorders & Sensors
Perseverance Astrobiology Droid Crosses An Ancient Martian River Bed To Reach A Science Target
After detouring through a dune field to avoid wheel-rattling boulders, NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover reached its latest area of scientific interest on June 9. The route change not only shortened […]