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A Remote Sensing/Geographic Information Systems Approach in the Selection of Mars Sites of Biological InterestThe search for extinct or extant life on Mars is the search for past or present liquid water, respectively. There are numerous signs of past liquid water on Mars in the form of dry river valleys, paleolakes, and their associated flow and sediment patterns. While some of these features are recent (Amazonian, 1.8 billion years ago to present), there is no evidence that any are currently flowing. Liquid water on the surface would only be possible at those sites with sufficiently high temperatures and pressure. The key to the selection of sites on Mars to search for evidence of life is the search for the presence of water. An approach to this problem is the use of remotely sensed data incorporated in a geographic information system (GIS). A GIS is a computer-based system capable of assembling, storing, manipulating, and displaying geographically referenced information, i.e., data identified according to their locations. In planetary studies these data are acquired from remote sensing (RS) platforms (orbiters). These data are co-registered layers and, through the use of GIS analysis functions, areas on these layers can be selected as a function of the information desired. Our work used existing data layers from the Viking and Mars Global Surveyor missions to determine where water could be possible in liquid form on the Martian surface, based on the phase diagram for water.
Document ID
20010020465
Acquisition Source
Ames Research Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Lobitz, B. M.
(Johnson Controls World Services Moffett Field, CA United States)
Wood, B. L.
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA United States)
Averner, M.
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA United States)
McKay, C.
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA United States)
Date Acquired
August 20, 2013
Publication Date
July 1, 2000
Publication Information
Publication: Concepts and Approaches for Mars Exploration
Issue: Part 2
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Science And Exploration
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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