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Planetary Perspective on Life on Early Mars and the Early EarthImpacts of asteroids and comets posed a major hazard to the continuous existence of early life on Mars as on the Earth. The chief danger was presented by globally distributed ejecta, which for very large impacts takes the form of transient thick rock vapor atmospheres; both planets suffered such impacts repeatedly. The exposed surface on both planets was sterilized when it was quickly heated to the temperature of condensed rock vapor by radiation and rock rain. Shallow water bodies were quickly evaporated and sterilized. Any surviving life must have been either in deep water or well below the surface.
Document ID
19970025398
Acquisition Source
Ames Research Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Sleep, Norman H.
(Stanford Univ. Stanford, CA United States)
Zahnle, Kevin
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA United States)
Date Acquired
August 17, 2013
Publication Date
December 1, 1996
Publication Information
Publication: Astrobiology Workshop: Leadership in Astrobiology
Subject Category
Space Biology
Accession Number
97N24952
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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