Planetary Exploration, 1968-1975; Report of a Study by the Space Science Board, Washington, D.C., June 1968 (1968) / Chapter Skim
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Exobiology
Exobiology
Pages 46-53
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From page 46... ...
The chemical and energetic changes that constitute the metabolism of the organism can occur only in association with a polar solvent; of the solvents, liquid water appears to be the only reasonable possibility. The requirements that the chemistry be based on carbon and that the solvent be water establish a limited temperature range, dependent on solute content and atmospheric pressure, within which the essentially aqueous living system can continue to function.
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From page 47... ...
In common with his colleagues in other disciplines, the biologist searching for life is interested in atmospheric composition, soil structure and composition, water economy, meteorological data, temperatures, and other physical parameters such as radiation flux. The biologist is primarily interested in data pertaining to the vicinity of the surface, i.e., the microclimate immediately above, at, or just below, the surface.
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From page 48... ...
The determination of atmospheric composition, for example, carries with it little risk because we are bound to obtain useful information and are independent of the mechanically difficult problem of obtaining a solid sample. At the same time, it provides us with significant yield since the information is of biological relevance (more so if carried out over several diurnal cycles)
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From page 49... ...
If we assume that after we have digested the results of these missions Mars will command enhanced biological interest, then NASA should be prepared to optimize its exobiological effort and doubtless will be justified in raising priorities for experimental work on the Martian surface. The next generation lander/ orbiter, which we recommend should be planned for 1975, will build on earlier mission results and therefore will be able to carry out more sophisticated experiments.
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