Journal article
Exploration of hydrothermal targets on Mars
Icarus (New York, N.Y. 1962), Vol.189(2), pp.308-324
2007
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/107370
Abstract
Based on various lines of geologic, geomorphic, topographic, geophysical, spectral, and elemental evidence, we conclude that hydrothermal environments have certainly existed on Mars and are likely to still exist. Here, we present candidate targets of endogenic- and exogenic-driven hydrothermal environments on Mars based on a set of selection criteria and suggest strategies for the detection of such targets. This includes a re-evaluation of potential targets using both existing and yet-to-be-released remote information provided by the instruments onboard the Mars orbiters and rovers. We also provide terrestrial analogs for possible martian hydrothermal environments to highlight the implications of these targets for potential martian life. This compilation and synthesis of data from martian localities indicating hydrothermal activity is timely and a first step towards prioritizing candidate targets for further investigation, which will likely add more targets to this list. Future in situ exploration will have to focus on the most promising of the hydrothermal targets and investigate them utilizing a novel integrated multi-tier, multi-agent reconnaissance mission architecture.
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Details
- Title
- Exploration of hydrothermal targets on Mars
- Creators
- Dirk Schulze-Makuch - School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USAJames M Dohm - Department of Hydrology and Water Resources, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USAChaojun Fan - School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USAAlberto G Fairén - Space Science and Astrobiology Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, 94035 CA, USAJ.A.P Rodriguez - Planetary Science Institute, 1700E. Fort Lowell Rd., Tucson, AZ 85719, USAVictor R Baker - Department of Hydrology and Water Resources, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USAWolfgang Fink - Visual and Autonomous Exploration Systems Research Laboratory, Division of Physics, Mathematics and Astronomy, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
- Publication Details
- Icarus (New York, N.Y. 1962), Vol.189(2), pp.308-324
- Academic Unit
- UNKNOWN
- Publisher
- Elsevier Inc
- Identifiers
- 99900546726701842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article