scholarly journals In Situ Biological Contamination Studies of the Moon: Implications for Planetary Protection and Life Detection Missions

2010 ◽  
Vol 107 (1) ◽  
pp. 87-93 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel P. Glavin ◽  
Jason P. Dworkin ◽  
Mark Lupisella ◽  
David R. Williams ◽  
Gerhard Kminek ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
The Moon ◽  
Planetary Protection ◽  
Biological Contamination ◽  
Life Detection

Biological contamination studies of lunar landing sites: implications for future planetary protection and life detection on the Moon and Mars

2004 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 265-271 ◽  
Author(s):  
D.P. Glavin ◽  
J.P. Dworkin ◽  
M. Lupisella ◽  
G. Kminek ◽  
J.D. Rummel
Keyword(s):  
Ground Truth ◽  
The Moon ◽  
Ground Truth Data ◽  
Planetary Protection ◽  
Biological Contamination ◽  
Life Detection ◽  
Solar System Exploration ◽  
Robotic Missions ◽  
Human Exploration ◽  
The Impact

Chemical and microbiological studies of the impact of terrestrial contamination of the lunar surface during the Apollo missions could provide valuable data to help refine future Mars surface exploration plans and planetary protection requirements for a human mission to Mars. NASA and ESA have outlined new visions for solar system exploration that will include a series of lunar robotic missions to prepare for and support a human return to the Moon, and future human exploration of Mars and other destinations. Under the Committee on Space Research's (COSPAR's) current planetary protection policy for the Moon, no decontamination procedures are required for outbound lunar spacecraft. Nonetheless, future in situ investigations of a variety of locations on the Moon by highly sensitive instruments designed to search for biologically derived organic compounds would help assess the contamination of the Moon by lunar spacecraft and Apollo astronauts. These studies could also provide valuable ‘ground truth’ data for Mars sample return missions and help define planetary protection requirements for future Mars bound spacecraft carrying life detection experiments.

scholarly journals Astrobiological Field Campaign to a Volcanosedimentary Mars Analogue Methane Producing Subsurface Protected Ecosystem: Imuruk Lake (Alaska)

2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
F. Gómez ◽  
O. Prieto-Ballesteros ◽  
D. Fernández-Remolar ◽  
J. A. Rodríguez-Manfredi ◽  
M. Fernández-Sampedro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Ecology ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Land Bridge ◽  
High Hydrogen ◽  
Adverse Conditions ◽  
Life On Mars ◽  
Life Detection ◽  
National Preserve ◽  
Mars Exploration Rovers

Viking missions reported adverse conditions for life in Mars surface. High hydrogen signal obtained by Mars orbiters has increased the interest in subsurface prospection as putative protected Mars environment with life potential. Permafrost has attracted considerable interest from an astrobiological point of view due to the recently reported results from the Mars exploration rovers. Considerable studies have been developed on extreme ecosystems and permafrost in particular, to evaluate the possibility of life on Mars and to test specific automated life detection instruments for space missions. The biodiversity of permafrost located on the Bering Land Bridge National Preserve has been studied as an example of subsurface protected niche of astrobiological interest. Different conventional (enrichment and isolation) and molecular ecology techniques (cloning, fluorescence“in situ”probe hybridization, FISH) have been used for isolation and bacterial identification.

Planetary protection for humans in space: Mars and the Moon

2008 ◽  
Vol 63 (7-10) ◽  
pp. 1025-1030 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catharine A. Conley ◽  
John D. Rummel
Keyword(s):  
The Moon ◽  
Planetary Protection

scholarly journals First in situ observation of the Moon-originating ions in the Earth's Magnetosphere by MAP-PACE on SELENE (KAGUYA)

2009 ◽  
Vol 36 (22) ◽  
Author(s):  
Takaaki Tanaka ◽  
Yoshifumi Saito ◽  
Shoichiro Yokota ◽  
Kazushi Asamura ◽  
Masaki N. Nishino ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
In Situ Observation ◽  
The Moon ◽  
Earth’S Magnetosphere ◽  
Earth's Magnetosphere

scholarly journals The New Moon: Major Advances in Lunar Science Enabled by Compositional Remote Sensing from Recent Missions

Geosciences ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (12) ◽  
pp. 498
Author(s):  
Deepak Dhingra
Keyword(s):  
Rapid Evolution ◽  
The Moon ◽  
New Paradigm ◽  
Lunar Science ◽  
Lunar Interior ◽  
New Findings ◽  
Lunar Samples ◽  
Resource Exploration ◽  
Globally Distributed

Volatile-bearing lunar surface and interior, giant magmatic-intrusion-laden near and far side, globally distributed layer of purest anorthosite (PAN) and discovery of Mg-Spinel anorthosite, a new rock type, represent just a sample of the brand new perspectives gained in lunar science in the last decade. An armada of missions sent by multiple nations and sophisticated analyses of the precious lunar samples have led to rapid evolution in the understanding of the Moon, leading to major new findings, including evidence for water in the lunar interior. Fundamental insights have been obtained about impact cratering, the crystallization of the lunar magma ocean and conditions during the origin of the Moon. The implications of this understanding go beyond the Moon and are therefore of key importance in solar system science. These new views of the Moon have challenged the previous understanding in multiple ways and are setting a new paradigm for lunar exploration in the coming decade both for science and resource exploration. Missions from India, China, Japan, South Korea, Russia and several private ventures promise continued exploration of the Moon in the coming years, which will further enrich the understanding of our closest neighbor. The Moon remains a key scientific destination, an active testbed for in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) activities, an outpost to study the universe and a future spaceport for supporting planetary missions.

The fabrication of silicon solar cells on the moon using in-situ resources

2002 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Ignatiev ◽  
A. Freundlich ◽  
M. Duke ◽  
S. Rosenberg
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Silicon Solar Cells ◽  
The Moon

Structure in the upper lunar crust

1977 ◽  
Vol 285 (1327) ◽  
pp. 469-473 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Conductivity ◽  
Elastic Moduli ◽  
Velocity Profiles ◽  
Depth Range ◽  
The Moon ◽  
Rock Layer ◽  
Lunar Crust ◽  
Seismic Profiles ◽  
Lunar Samples

Estimates are made of the degree of lithification and of structure densities which are compatible with lunar in situ seismic profiles in the top 30 km of the Moon. Estimates are based on comparison of results of passive and active lunar seismic experiments with the pressure dependence of elastic moduli for various classes of lunar samples. Competent rock, such as igneous rock or recrystallized breccias with crack porosity of not more than about 0.5 % are required to satisfy velocity profiles in the depth range 1-30 km. Velocity profiles in the upper 1 km are best satisfied by comminuted material to highly fractured lithic units. These estimates constrain those thermal and shock histories which are compatible with lunar seismic results. After crystallization, or recrystallization, rock below 1 km cannot have been exposed to more than moderate shock levels. In the uppermost 1 km, an unannealed and broken rock layer would imply low thermal conductivity resulting in possible temperatures at 1 km depth of several hundred kelvins.

The Future of Sustainable utilization of resources on the Moon: a new international legal regime?

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diego De Blasi
Keyword(s):  
Natural Resources ◽  
Outer Space ◽  
Critical Issue ◽  
Sustainable Utilization ◽  
The Moon ◽  
The Future ◽  
Celestial Bodies ◽  
Lunar Environment ◽  
Space Activities

<p>Outer space activities are increasingly bringing the international (scientific) community to upper stages of knowledge and awareness. With particular reference to <strong>Lunar exploration</strong>, general involvement of all States (also within a context of public-private partnerships initiatives) towards <strong>the principle of sustainable utilization of lunar resources</strong> shall represent an important requirement for the future of all Mankind</p><p><br>Thus, the <strong>safeguarding of lunar environment</strong> (the equitable/intragenerational utilization of its resources) shall represent a critical issue for the whole evolutionary framework of the <em>Corpus Iuris Spatialis</em></p><p>Firstly, the principle herein shall be taken into examination under the provisions laid down in the A<em>greement governing the Activities of States on the Moon and other Celestial Bodies.</em> Accordingly, article 11 states <em>“the moon and its natural resources are the common heritage of mankind”[..]; as well, “The moon is not subject to national appropriation by any claim of sovereignty, by means of use or occupation, or by any other means..” (paragraph 2)</em></p><p><em> </em><br>Secondly, other concerns may also take into account: a)<strong> the perspective of ISRU (in situ resources utilization) processes</strong>, which shall take place towards sustainability means b) the undertaking of well balanced measures in exploring and using natural resources <em>vis-à-vis</em> adverse changes in lunar environment <em>(article 7, par. 1, Moon Treaty)</em>. In addition, besides the terms pursuant to the establishment of peaceful use of (space) lunar activities, an adequate <em>consensus</em> shall be called upon States beyond the <em>status quo</em></p><p>  <br>In conclusion, the aferomentioned background shall also consider the adoption of a comprehensive <em><strong>Additional Protocol to the Moon Treaty</strong></em> concerning <em>the sustainable utilization of lunar resources</em>. Arguably, this progressive framework may also be welcomed as milestones towards <em>further legal developments in international space law </em></p><p> </p><p> </p>

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