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Signs of Life A Report Based on the April 2000 Workshop on Life Detection Techniques (2002) / Chapter Skim
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Executive Summary
Pages 1-4

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From page 1...
... The nature of questions 2 through 4, as formulated, is such that a single, declarative answer to each is not possible given the great uncertainties that remain in our understanding of the possible range of chemistry and morphology that could constitute life. Question 1 can be answered more definitively because of our direct study of terrestrial organisms, but there remains intense debate over the level to which spacecraft sterilization should be achieved for missions to particular solar system bodies.
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From page 2...
... The committee emphasizes that this is a workshop report, rather than a detailed strategy study, and so drawing very specific conclusions and recommendations is not appropriate. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS Detecting Organisms on a Spacecraft Prior to Launch: Preventing Forward Contamination The most strikingly definitive result coming from the workshop concerns the dramatic improvement in laboratory techniques designed to detect terrestrial organisms, with principal application to spacecraft sterilization and hence forward planetary protection.
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From page 3...
... Determination of the Past Presence of Living Organisms in a Sample The committee concludes that the search strategy for evidence of extinct life must include the identification of suitable landing sites, the selection of the appropriate rock types, and multiple analytical techniques that, in the aggregate, are capable of distinguishing between abiogenic and biogenic signatures. The assessment of extinct biosignatures will likely require a sample-return mission to carry out the sophisticated set of measurements needed to make this determination.
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From page 4...
... Because of the continuing rapid improvements in technology, it is not appropriate at this time to recommend a specific set of techniques for in situ life detection, but in situ life detection will require commitment to a small set of potential techniques with significant lead time to ensure that they can be space qualified. The committee encourages continued efforts to develop innovative and miniaturizable techniques for in situ life detection.
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Key Terms

  • situ life
  • living organisms
  • terrestrial organisms
  • extinct life
  • returned sample

  • organic molecules
  • site selection
  • planetary body
  • spacecraft sterilization
  • terrestrial contamination

  • require commitment
  • extraterrestrial life
  • rapid improvements
  • planetary bodies
  • appropriate site

  • realistic fashion
  • continuing rapid
  • tagging terrestrial
  • detected organisms
  • outer solar

  • encourages continued
  • molecular clouds
  • specific set
  • fossil remnants
  • essentially terrestrial

  • explicit consideration
  • detection mission
  • constraints associated
  • provide suitable
  • planetary protection


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