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Raman characterization of terrestrial analogs from the AMADEE‐18 astronaut simulated mission using the ExoMars RLS simulator: Implications for Mars
Author(s) -
Lalla Emmanuel Alexis,
Konstantinidis Menelaos,
LopezReyes Guillermo,
Daly Michael G.,
Veneranda Marco,
Manrique José A.,
Groemer Gernot,
Vago Jorge L.,
Rull Fernando
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of raman spectroscopy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.748
H-Index - 110
eISSN - 1097-4555
pISSN - 0377-0486
DOI - 10.1002/jrs.6023
Subject(s) - mars exploration program , exploration of mars , martian , raman spectroscopy , astrobiology , raman laser , geology , physics , raman scattering , optics
Between February 1 and February 28, 2018, the Austrian Space Forum, in cooperation with research teams from 25 nations, conducted the AMADEE‐18 mission—a human‐robotic Mars expedition simulation in the Dhofar region in the Sultanate of Oman. As a part of the AMADEE‐18 simulated Mars human exploration mission, the Remote Science Support team investigated the Dhofar area (Oman) to qualify it as a potential Mars analog site. The motivation of this research was to study and register selected samples collected by the analog astronauts during the AMADEE‐18 mission with the European Space Agency (ESA) ExoMars Raman Laser Spectrometer (RLS) simulator, compare the results with standard laboratory measurements, and establish the implication of the results to the future ESA ExoMars mission. The Raman measurements identified minerals such as carbonates (calcite and dolomite), feldspar and plagioclase (albite, anorthite, orthoclase, and sanidine), Fe‐oxides (goethite, hematite, and magnetite), and Ti‐oxide (anatase), each relevant to planetary exploration. As we have presented here, Raman spectroscopy is a powerful tool for detecting the presence of organic molecules, particularly by analyzing the principal vibration of CC and CH bonds. It has also been shown that portable Raman spectroscopy is a relevant tool for in situ field studies such as those conducted during extra‐vehicular activities (EVA) in simulated missions like the AMADEE‐18 and the future AMADEE‐2020 campaign.