The Use of Returned Martian Samples to Evaluate the Possibility of Extant Life on Mars

The formal life-related objective of the M-2020 sample-collecting rover is to seek the signs of ancient life. The rover will not enter ''special regions'' on Mars where Earth life may replicate or extant Martian life forms are likely to exist. Therefore, returned samples will not specifically be chosen for the purpose of discovering extant life unless something unexpected is encountered in the field. Regardless, the astrobiological community is highly interested investigating whether or not there is extant life in/on these samples.