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Research into the environmental limits of life and the workings of extreme ecosystems is ongoing, enabling researchers to better predict what planetary environments might be most likely to harbor life. Missions such as the Phoenix lander, Mars Science Laboratory, ExoMars to Mars, and the Cassini probe to Saturn's moon Titan hope to further explore the possibilities of life on other planets in our solar system. Viking program Main article: Viking biological experiments Carl Sagan posing with a model of the Viking Lander. The two Viking spacecraft each carried four types of biological experiments to the surface of Mars in the late 1970s. These were the only Mars landers to carry out experiments to look specifically for biosignatures of life on Mars. The landers used a robotic arm to put soil samples into sealed test containers on the craft. The two landers were identical, so the same tests were carried out at two places on Mars' surface; Viking 1 near the equator and Viking 2 further north.[139] The result was inconclusive,[140] and is still disputed by some scientists.[141][142][143][144] Beagle 2 Main article: Beagle 2 Replica of the 33.2 kg Beagle-2 lander Mars Science Laboratory rover concept artwork Beagle 2 was an unsuccessful British Mars lander that formed part of the European Space Agency's 2003 Mars Express mission. Its primary purpose was to search for signs of life on Mars, past or present. All contact with it was lost upon its entry into the atmosphere.[145] EXPOSE Main article: EXPOSE EXPOSE was a multi-user facility mounted in 2008 outside the International Space Station dedicated to astrobiology.[146][147] EXPOSE was developed by the European Space Agency (ESA) for long-term spaceflights that allowed to expose organic chemicals and biological samples to outer space for one and a half years in low Earth orbit.[148] Mars Science Laboratory Main article: Mars Science Laboratory The Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) mission landed a rover that is currently in operation on Mars.[149] It was launched November 26, 2011, and landed at Gale Crater on August 6, 2012.[36] Mission objectives are to help assess Mars' habitability and in doing so, determine whether Mars is or has ever been able to support life,[150] collect data for a future manned mission, study Martian geology, its climate, and further assess the role that water, an essential ingredient for life as we know it, played in forming minerals on Mars. ExoMars Main article: ExoMars ExoMars rover model ExoMars is a robotic mission to Mars to search for possible biosignatures of Martian life, past or present. This astrobiological mission is currently under development by the European Space Agency (ESA) with likely collaboration by the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos); it is planned for a 2018 launch.[151][152][153] Mars 2020 rover mission Main article: Mars 2020 rover mission The 'Mars 2020 rover mission' is a concept under study by NASA with a possible launch in 2020. It is intended to investigate astrobiologically relevant environments on Mars, investigate its surface geological processes and history, including the assessment of its past habitability and potential for preservation of biosignatures within accessible geological materials.[154] The Science Definition Team is proposing the rover collect and package as many as 31 samples of rock cores and soil for a later mission to bring back for more definitive analysis in laboratories on Earth. The rover could make measurements and technology demonstrations to help designers of a human expedition understand any hazards posed by Martian dust and demonstrate how to collect carbon dioxide (CO2), which could be a resource for making oxygen (O2) and rocket fuel. Improved precision landing technology that enhances the scientific value of robotic missions also will be critical for eventual human exploration on the surface.[155][156] Red Dragon Main article: Red Dragon (spacecraft) Red Dragon is a proposed concept for a low-cost Mars lander mission that would utilize a SpaceX Falcon Heavy launch vehicle, and a modified Dragon capsule to enter the Martian atmosphere. The lander's primary mission would be to search for evidence of life on Mars (biosignatures), past or present. The concept had been scheduled to propose for funding on 2012/2013 as a NASA Discovery mission, for launch in 2018.[157][158] Icebreaker Life Main article: Icebreaker Life Icebreaker Life is a lander mission that is being proposed for NASA's Discovery Program for the 2018 launch opportunity.[159] If selected and funded, the stationary lander would be a near copy of the successful 2008 Phoenix and it would carry an upgraded astrobiology scientific payload, including a 1 meter-long drill to sample ice-cemented ground in the northern plains to conduct a search for organic molecules and evidence of current or past life on Mars.[160][161] One of the key goals of the Icebreaker Life mission is to test the hypothesis that the ice-rich ground in the polar regions has significant concentrations of organics due to protection by the ice from oxidants and radiation. Europa Clipper Main article: Europa Clipper Europa Clipper is a mission concept under study by NASA that would conduct detailed reconnaissance of Jupiter's moon Europa and would investigate whether the icy moon could harbor conditions suitable for life.[162][163] It would also aid in the selection of future landing sites.[164][165] |
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