On the possibility of chemosynthetic ecosystems in subsurface habitats on Mars
Recent discoveries of nonphotosynthetic microbial ecosystems on earth have prompted the present reexamination of the prospects for microbial life on Mars, where well-protected subsurface niches associated with hydrothermal activity could have furnished a refuge after surface conditions became inhosp...
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ftnasantrs:oai:casi.ntrs.nasa.gov:19920048521 2023-05-15T16:37:31+02:00 On the possibility of chemosynthetic ecosystems in subsurface habitats on Mars Boston, Penelope J. Ivanov, Mikhail V. Mckay, Christopher P. Unclassified, Unlimited, Publicly available Feb 1, 1992 http://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19920048521 unknown http://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19920048521 Accession ID: 92A31145 Copyright Other Sources 91 Icarus; 95; 300-308 1992 ftnasantrs 2012-02-15T19:31:24Z Recent discoveries of nonphotosynthetic microbial ecosystems on earth have prompted the present reexamination of the prospects for microbial life on Mars, where well-protected subsurface niches associated with hydrothermal activity could have furnished a refuge after surface conditions became inhospitable. It is noted that extensive geological features attest to widespread ground ice-volcanism interactions. Attention is given to the possibility of anaerobic systems employing CO2 as the primary source of carbon, and liquid water furnished by melted subsurface permafrost. Gases from deep volcanic activity could effect reduction, thereby establishing a chemolithoautotrophic basis for a methanogenic or acetogenic and sulfur-based ecology microbial community. Other/Unknown Material Ice permafrost NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS) |
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NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS) |
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ftnasantrs |
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unknown |
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91 |
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91 Boston, Penelope J. Ivanov, Mikhail V. Mckay, Christopher P. On the possibility of chemosynthetic ecosystems in subsurface habitats on Mars |
topic_facet |
91 |
description |
Recent discoveries of nonphotosynthetic microbial ecosystems on earth have prompted the present reexamination of the prospects for microbial life on Mars, where well-protected subsurface niches associated with hydrothermal activity could have furnished a refuge after surface conditions became inhospitable. It is noted that extensive geological features attest to widespread ground ice-volcanism interactions. Attention is given to the possibility of anaerobic systems employing CO2 as the primary source of carbon, and liquid water furnished by melted subsurface permafrost. Gases from deep volcanic activity could effect reduction, thereby establishing a chemolithoautotrophic basis for a methanogenic or acetogenic and sulfur-based ecology microbial community. |
format |
Other/Unknown Material |
author |
Boston, Penelope J. Ivanov, Mikhail V. Mckay, Christopher P. |
author_facet |
Boston, Penelope J. Ivanov, Mikhail V. Mckay, Christopher P. |
author_sort |
Boston, Penelope J. |
title |
On the possibility of chemosynthetic ecosystems in subsurface habitats on Mars |
title_short |
On the possibility of chemosynthetic ecosystems in subsurface habitats on Mars |
title_full |
On the possibility of chemosynthetic ecosystems in subsurface habitats on Mars |
title_fullStr |
On the possibility of chemosynthetic ecosystems in subsurface habitats on Mars |
title_full_unstemmed |
On the possibility of chemosynthetic ecosystems in subsurface habitats on Mars |
title_sort |
on the possibility of chemosynthetic ecosystems in subsurface habitats on mars |
publishDate |
1992 |
url |
http://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19920048521 |
op_coverage |
Unclassified, Unlimited, Publicly available |
genre |
Ice permafrost |
genre_facet |
Ice permafrost |
op_source |
Other Sources |
op_relation |
http://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19920048521 Accession ID: 92A31145 |
op_rights |
Copyright |
_version_ |
1766027805453189120 |