Skip to main content

Signs of Life A Report Based on the April 2000 Workshop on Life Detection Techniques (2002) / Chapter Skim
Currently Skimming:

2 Sample Return
Pages 8-11

The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.


From page 8...
... The introduction of terrestrial microorganisms could compromise life detection and possibly disrupt a native biology or prebiology, and is thus a fundamental consideration for mission design. Any sample return mission must therefore explicitly address both forward and back contamination, but all missions to targets that potentially harbor life must deal with the forward contamination issue.
Read the entire page →
From page 9...
... There is even some prospect of extant microbial life on Mars in deep deposits of liquid water produced by geothermal activity beneath the surface. For this reason, of all sample return missions, those to Mars have the highest risk of back contamination, and until the problems are better understood, space agencies should plan on highly secure procedures to limit potential risks.
Read the entire page →
From page 10...
... The risk levels of sample returns from Europa are relatively high, and such samples will have to undergo some form of quarantine until stringent testing shows that no living organisms are present. The committee notes that there is a risk of forward contamination of Europa in the seeding of the subsurface global ocean with terrestrial microorganisms, a factor that is already an important consideration in mission design of the Europa Orbiter.
Read the entire page →
From page 11...
... REFERENCES 1. Space Studies Board, National Research Council, Evaluating the Biological Potential in Samples Returned from Planetary Satellites and Small Solar System Bodies, National Academy Press, Washington, D.C., 1998.
Read the entire page →

Key Terms

  • sample return
  • space studies
  • forward contamination
  • life detection
  • sample returns

  • living organisms
  • microbial life
  • upper atmosphere
  • situ analyses
  • europa orbiter

  • organic chemistry
  • samples returned
  • dust particles
  • mission design
  • return mission

  • terrestrial microorganisms
  • native biology
  • risk associated
  • liquid layers
  • increasing evidence

  • martian samples
  • extensive analysis
  • latter topic
  • site selection
  • essential issue

  • subsurface global
  • bears evidence
  • mild cold
  • magnetic signature
  • central focus


    • This material may be derived from roughly machine-read images, and so is provided only to facilitate research.
    More information on Chapter Skim is available.