Print button

Abstract EANA2026-78


 

Laboratory analog experiment to replicate rover measurements of the Martian surface

Francesco Renzi (1)(2), Teresa Fornaro (1), Andrew Alberini (1), Sole Biancalani (1),(3),(4),(5), Giovanni Poggiali (1), Cristina Garcìa Florentino (1), Mariano Battistuzzi (1), John Robert Brucato (1)
(1) INAF-OAA, Italy, (2) Department of physics and astronomy, University of Florence, Sesto Fiorentino (FI), Italy, (3) Department of Physics, University of Trento, Povo, Italy, (4) Italian Space Agency (ASI), Rome, Italy, (5) Department of Earth Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy


Mars was visited by a lot of space missions during the past decades, including landers and rovers. Among others, one of the main objectives is to search for traces of ancient life. Although current Martian conditions are inhospitable, evidence indicates that the planet once hosted early-Earth-like environments, with hydrological activity, diverse geological features, and a dynamic atmosphere. Crucial targets in this search are minerals capable of preserving biosignatures and organic compounds. However, the Martian surface is exposed to UV radiation and cosmic rays, which can degrade organic material [1]. Until now, the strongest detected spectral signals from organics are likely linked to aromatic organic molecules associated with aqueous alteration minerals, including sulfates and carbonates [2,3].

In this study we focus on replicating measurements made by Martian rovers with the aim of verifying hypothesis regarding the nature and the photostability of potential biosignatures. In particular, laboratory efforts were made to simulate environmental conditions of Martian surface including atmosphere (pressure, temperature and composition) and solar UV irradiation. Under those conditions, Martian analog samples were analyzed using infrared and Deep UV (DUV) Raman spectroscopic techniques that mimic the performance of instruments located on Martian rovers.

Analog samples composed of a mineral substrate and an organic component chosen and prepared to simulate early aqueous environments [4] or subsequent dry conditions on the red planet.

 

The laboratory setup allows us to monitor the effect of UV radiation on organic components, determining the role of the mineral matrix as photocatalytic or photoprotective and providing a direct comparison between ‘in situ’ and laboratory data, crucial to put constraints on the hypothesis regarding the nature of the potential organic matter observed.


This work will provide information in support of present and future Martian rover missions.

 

REFERENCES:

[1] Fornaro et al., 2018; [2] Scheller et al., 2022; [3] Sharma et al., 2023; [4] Fornaro et al., 2020.