A New Method and Mass-Spectrometric Instrument for Extraterrestrial Microbial Life Detection Using the Elemental Composition Analyses of Martian Regolith and Permafrost/Ice

• Published in: Astrobiology
• Main Authors: Managadze, G.G., Safronova, A.A., Luchnikov, K.A., Vorobyova, E.A., Duxbury, N.S., Wurz, Peter, Managadze, N.G., Chumikov, A.E., Khamizov, R.Kh.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Mary Ann Liebert 2017
• Subjects: 520 Astronomy; Ganymede; Ice; permafrost
• Online Access: https://boris.unibe.ch/105625/1/ast.2016.1511.pdf; https://boris.unibe.ch/105625/

We propose a new technique for the detection of microorganisms by elemental composition analyses of a sample extracted from regolith, permafrost, and ice of extraterrestrial bodies. We also describe the design of the ABIMAS instrument, which consists of the onboard time-of-flight laser mass-reflectr...