Open AccessSurface and subsurface composition of the Life in the Atacama field sites from rover data and orbital image analysis
Author(s) -
Piatek Jennifer L.,
Hardgrove Craig,
Moersch Jeffrey E.,
Drake Darrell M.,
Wyatt Michael B.,
Rampey Michael,
Carlisle Orion,
WarrenRhodes Kim,
Dohm James M.,
Hock Andrew N.,
Cabrol Nathalie A.,
Wettergreen David S.,
Grin Edmond A.,
Diaz Guillermo Chong,
Coppin Peter,
Weinstein Shmuel,
Cockell Charles S.,
Marinangeli Lucia,
Ori Gian Gabriele,
Smith Trey,
Jonak Dominic,
Wagner Michael,
Stubbs Kristen,
Thomas Geb,
Pudenz Erin,
Glasgow Justin
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: biogeosciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.67
H-Index - 298
eISSN - 2156-2202
pISSN - 0148-0227
DOI - 10.1029/2006jg000317
Subject(s) - vnir , mars exploration program , remote sensing , geology , terrain , mars rover , orbital mechanics , exploration of mars , spectrometer , volcano , astrobiology , hyperspectral imaging , earth science , physics , geochemistry , satellite , geography , cartography , astronomy , quantum mechanics
The Life in the Atacama project examined six different sites in the Atacama Desert (Chile) over 3 years in an attempt to remotely detect the presence of life with a rover. The remote science team, using only orbital and rover data sets, identified areas with a high potential for life as targets for further inspection by the rover. Orbital data in the visible/near infrared (VNIR) and in the thermal infrared (TIR) were used to examine the mineralogy, geomorphology, and chlorophyll potential of the field sites. Field instruments included two spectrometers (VNIR reflectance and TIR emission) and a neutron detector: this project represents the first time a neutron detector has been used as part of a “science‐blind” rover field test. Rover‐based spectroscopy was used to identify the composition of small scale features not visible in the orbital images and to improve interpretations of those data sets. The orbital and ground‐based data sets produced consistent results, suggesting that much of the field sites consist of altered volcanic terrains with later deposits of sulfates, quartz, and iron oxides. At one location (Site A), the ground‐based spectral data revealed considerably greater compositional diversity than was seen from the orbital view. One neutron detector transect provided insight into subsurface hydrogen concentrations, which correlated with life and surface features. The results presented here have implications for targeting strategies, especially for future Mars rover missions looking for potential habitats/paleohabitats.