Report of the COSPAR Mars Special Regions Colloquium

G. Kminek; J. D. Rummel; C. S. Cockell; R. Atlas; N. Barlow; D. Beaty; W. Boynton; M. Carr; S. Clifford; C. A. Conley; A. F. Davila; A. Debus; P. Doran; M. Hecht; J. Heldmann; J. Helbert; V. Hipkin; G. Horneck; T. L. Kieft; G. Klingelhoefer; M. Meyer; H. Newsom; G. G. Ori; J. Parnell; D. Prieur; F. Raulin; D. Schulze-Makuch; J. A. Spry; P. E. Stabekis; E. Stackebrandt; J. Vago; M. Viso; M. Voytek; L. Wells; F. Westall

doi:10.1016/j.asr.2010.04.039

Report of the COSPAR Mars Special Regions Colloquium

G. Kminek
, J. D. Rummel
, C. S. Cockell
, R. Atlas
, N. Barlow
, D. Beaty
, W. Boynton
, M. Carr
, S. Clifford
, C. A. Conley
, A. F. Davila
, A. Debus
, P. Doran
, M. Hecht
, J. Heldmann
, J. Helbert
, V. Hipkin
, G. Horneck
, T. L. Kieft
, G. Klingelhoefer

M. Meyer, H. Newsom, G. G. Ori, J. Parnell, D. Prieur, F. Raulin, D. Schulze-Makuch, J. A. Spry, P. E. Stabekis, E. Stackebrandt, J. Vago, M. Viso, M. Voytek, L. Wells, F. Westall

Geology and Geophysics

ESTEC
E Carolina Univ
The Open University, UK
University of Louisville
Northern Arizona University
Jet Prop Lab
Lunar & Planetary Lab
Pacific Sci Ctr
NASA Headquarters
University of Illinois
Inst Planetenforsch
DLR
New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz
University of New Mexico
IRSPS
University of Brest, France
CNRS
Washington State University
Deutsch Sammlung Mikroorganism Zellkultur GmbH
Univ Penn
Canadian Space Agency
NASA Ames Research Center
CNES, Agence Franaise de l'Espace, 31 401 Toulouse Cedex 9, 18, Avenue Edouard Belin, France

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

63 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

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. (C) 2010 COSPAR. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	811-829
Number of pages	19
Journal	Advances in Space Research
Volume	46
Issue number	6
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asr.2010.04.039
Publication status	Published - 15 Sept 2010

Keywords

special regions
Mars
planetary protection
forward contamination
low temperature
water activity
upper Martian surface
South-Pole snow
sea-Ice
ground ice
bacterial-activity
water-vapor
spacecraft surfaces
high obliquity
near-surface

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10.1016/j.asr.2010.04.039

Cite this

Kminek, G., Rummel, J. D., Cockell, C. S., Atlas, R., Barlow, N., Beaty, D., Boynton, W., Carr, M., Clifford, S., Conley, C. A., Davila, A. F., Debus, A., Doran, P., Hecht, M., Heldmann, J., Helbert, J., Hipkin, V., Horneck, G., Kieft, T. L., ... Westall, F. (2010). Report of the COSPAR Mars Special Regions Colloquium. Advances in Space Research, 46(6), 811-829. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asr.2010.04.039

Kminek, G, Rummel, JD, Cockell, CS, Atlas, R, Barlow, N, Beaty, D, Boynton, W, Carr, M, Clifford, S, Conley, CA, Davila, AF, Debus, A, Doran, P, Hecht, M, Heldmann, J, Helbert, J, Hipkin, V, Horneck, G, Kieft, TL, Klingelhoefer, G, Meyer, M, Newsom, H, Ori, GG, Parnell, J, Prieur, D, Raulin, F, Schulze-Makuch, D, Spry, JA, Stabekis, PE, Stackebrandt, E, Vago, J, Viso, M, Voytek, M, Wells, L & Westall, F 2010, 'Report of the COSPAR Mars Special Regions Colloquium', Advances in Space Research, vol. 46, no. 6, pp. 811-829. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asr.2010.04.039

@article{56672780bcad4a6e8d68a10fa3065f7a,

title = "Report of the COSPAR Mars Special Regions Colloquium",

abstract = "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. (C) 2010 COSPAR. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.",

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AU - Rummel, J. D.

AU - Cockell, C. S.

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AU - Barlow, N.

AU - Beaty, D.

AU - Boynton, W.

AU - Carr, M.

AU - Clifford, S.

AU - Conley, C. A.

AU - Davila, A. F.

AU - Debus, A.

AU - Doran, P.

AU - Hecht, M.

AU - Heldmann, J.

AU - Helbert, J.

AU - Hipkin, V.

AU - Horneck, G.

AU - Kieft, T. L.

AU - Klingelhoefer, G.

AU - Meyer, M.

AU - Newsom, H.

AU - Ori, G. G.

AU - Parnell, J.

AU - Prieur, D.

AU - Raulin, F.

AU - Schulze-Makuch, D.

AU - Spry, J. A.

AU - Stabekis, P. E.

AU - Stackebrandt, E.

AU - Vago, J.

AU - Viso, M.

AU - Voytek, M.

AU - Wells, L.

AU - Westall, F.

PY - 2010/9/15

Y1 - 2010/9/15

N2 - 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. (C) 2010 COSPAR. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

AB - 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. (C) 2010 COSPAR. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

KW - special regions

KW - Mars

KW - planetary protection

KW - forward contamination

KW - low temperature

KW - water activity

KW - upper Martian surface

KW - South-Pole snow

KW - sea-Ice

KW - ground ice

KW - bacterial-activity

KW - water-vapor

KW - spacecraft surfaces

KW - high obliquity

KW - near-surface

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DO - 10.1016/j.asr.2010.04.039

M3 - Article

SN - 0273-1177

VL - 46

SP - 811

EP - 829

JO - Advances in Space Research

JF - Advances in Space Research

IS - 6

ER -

Report of the COSPAR Mars Special Regions Colloquium

Abstract

Keywords

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