6533b827fe1ef96bd128659c
RESEARCH PRODUCT
Report of the COSPAR Mars special regions colloquium
Catharine A. ConleyStephen M. CliffordJennifer L. HeldmannPericles StabekisGian Gabriele OriFrançois RaulinFrances WestallWilliam V. BoyntonM. S. MeyerLlyd E. WellsJ. A. SpryCharles S. CockellMichael H. HechtGerhard KminekJohn ParnellHorton E. NewsomThomas L. KieftDaniel PrieurErko StackebrandtJorge L. VagoAlfonso F. DavilaV. HipkinRobert AtlasAndré DebusPeter T. DoranNadine G. BarlowJörn HelbertDirk Schulze-makuchMary A. VoytekDavid BeatyMichel VisoG. KlingelhoeferJohn D. RummelGerda HorneckMichael H. Carrsubject
Atmospheric Science010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciencesPlanetary protectionLiquid waterAerospace EngineeringTerrainBACTERIAL-ACTIVITY01 natural sciencesSPACECRAFT SURFACESAstrobiologyWater-vaporSouth-pole snow0103 physical sciencesBacterial activitySpace research010303 astronomy & astrophysicsBacterial activity0105 earth and related environmental sciencesMartianCommittee on Space ResearchCOSPAR mars special regions colloquiumNear-surfaceAstronomy and AstrophysicsMars Exploration Program15. Life on landGround ice[PHYS.PHYS.PHYS-SPACE-PH]Physics [physics]/Physics [physics]/Space Physics [physics.space-ph]GeophysicsLiquid water13. Climate actionSpace and Planetary ScienceGeneral Earth and Planetary SciencesHigh obliquitySea-iceUpper martian surfaceSpace-craft surfacesGeologydescription
International audience; In this paper we present the findings of a COSPAR Mars Special Regions Colloquium held in Rome in 2007. We review and discuss the definition of Mars Special Regions, the physical parameters used to define Mars Special Regions, and physical features on Mars that can be interpreted as Mars Special Regions. We conclude that any region experiencing temperatures > -25 degrees C for a few hours a year and a water activity > 0.5 can potentially allow the replication of terrestrial microorganisms. Physical features on Mars that can be interpreted as meeting these conditions constitute a Mars Special Region. Based on current knowledge of the martian environment and the conservative nature of planetary protection, the following features constitute Mars Special regions: Gullies and bright streaks associated with them, pasted-on terrain, deep subsurface, dark streaks only on a case-by-case basis, others to be determined. The parameter definition and the associated list of physical features should be re-evaluated on a regular basis.
| year | journal | country | edition | language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010-09-15 |