100 likes | 196 Views
Engineering Affordable Science to Investigate Life on Mars. The Mission. Take advantage of multiple Mars lander missions planned for next 10 – 15 years Make Exolance “quiver” easy to integrate Carry multiple Exolances on each flight
E N D
The Mission • Take advantage of multiple Mars lander missions planned for next 10 – 15 years • Make Exolance “quiver” easy to integrate • Carry multiple Exolances on each flight • Exolance penetrator based on military “bunker buster” • Deploy during final phase of EDL and distribute across landing path
The Science • Science payload – metabolic test that distinguishes non-living chemistry from the chemistry of living microorganisms • Exolance targets subsurface areas (1 – 2 m) where life is more likely to exist • Science payload stays with penetrator, aft body with communications gear remains on surface • Multiple probes expands sampling to multiple sites
Dr. Steve McDaniel The Team Dr. Chris McKay Could we use pictures here? Dr. Gil Levin Joe Cassady