# Presentation: 371595

## 2013/2018Astrobiology Field Laboratory Mission ConceptKnut Oxnevad, Luther Beegle, Greg WilsonJet Propulsion LaboratoryMIDP WorkshopJuly 21, 2004

## AFL Scientific Objectives

- Will allow planetary scale life-related predictions.

_**AFL SSG FINDING**_**:  **The following overall scientific objective is both achievable by AFL, and is a significant extension of currently planned missions:**  **
**	**** ****For at least one martian environment of high habitability potential, quantitatively investigate the      geological and geochemical context, the presence of the chemical precursors of life, and the preservation potential for biosignatures, and begin the process of life detection.**

**AFL Scientific Objectives**

- Implies a response to prior discoveries

- Our knowledge of habitability will not be complete by 2013—plan for more work.

- Start life detection through measurement of potential biosignatures

- Understanding preservation is key to life detection—also critical feedforward.

## AFL Scientific Objectives

- Within the region of martian surface operations, identify and classify martian environments (past or present) with different habitability potential, and characterize their geologic context. Quantitatively assess habitability potential by
- Measuring isotopic, chemical, mineralogical, and structural characteristics of samples, including the distribution and structure of C compounds.
- Assessing biologically available sources of energy, including chemical and thermal equilibria/disequilibria.
- Determine the role of water (past or present) in the geological processes at the landing site
- Investigate the factors that have affected the preservation of potential  biosignatures (past or present) on Mars
- Investigate the possibility of prebiotic chemistry on Mars (including non-carbon chemistry)
- Document any anomalous features that can be hypothesized as  possible biosignatures
- This will constitute a set of working hypotheses, which will need refinement (perhaps by experimentation and by observing Earth systems) and further testing on Mars.

**AFL Scientific Objectives**

## AFL Mission Concepts

_**AFL SSG FINDING**_:  There are four obvious general types of site in which the overall scientific goal of AFL (major advance in A/B) can be pursued:
- The (aqueous) sedimentary record.
- Fossil (inactive) hydrothermal systems
- Sites with ice
- Sites where it may be possible to sample liquid water
- The SSG did not have enough information to determine how these four options would be prioritized by a future SDT.  Future discoveries could have a major effect on planning.

**AFL Mission Concepts**

## AFL Mission Concepts Science Themes

- Assess past martian astrobiology by studying the stratigraphic record

***AFL Mission Concepts***** Science Themes**

_*Hydrothermal*_
- Assess _past_ martian astrobiology in an _inactive_ hydrothermal system

*Microbes preserved in a terrestrial hot spring deposit (Paleozoic, Australia)*

_*Subsurface Ice*_
- Determine the potential for extant life at a site where H2O is present.

*Northern Plains (70°N)*

_*Polar Icecap*_
- Asses past (and possibly present) Martian astrobiology by studying the northern polar cap.

_*Liquid Water*_
- Assess Martian astrobiology by studying liquid water in the shallow subsurface.

## AFL Payload AnalysisConcept of AFL Common Base

_**AFL SSG FINDING**_:  As shown on the previous slides, there are multiple possible variations on the AFL theme.  Different scientists see these variations in different context, and with different systems of priority.  However, it is possible to define an _invariant base_ which is common to most versions, along with a _discovery-responsive and competition-responsive cap_.

***AFL Payload Analysis*****Concept of AFL Common Base**

***Theme-specific instruments and/or engineering***
*Multiple alternative technologies must be supported up to pre-defined decision points.*

***Basic system required for all versions of AFL***
*Required technology must be supported for the long haul.*

**common base**

## AFL Payload AnalysisAFL Core Measurements

***AFL Payload Analysis*****AFL Core Measurements**

- Color stereo imaging, telescopic capability
- Reconnaissance-scale mineralogy and/or composition
- Experiment related to redox potential
- Meso-micro scale color imaging

- Meso-scale optical microspectroscopy/ imaging for the presence of redox couples and/or carbon phases and macrostructures

- _Examples_
- stable isotopes
- Abundance, molecular structure and isomeric distribution, of carbon
- Specific tests indicative of biochemical activity (past or present)

- In addition to the above,
- Definitive mineralogy
- Elemental geochemistry / carbon chemistry

- Poss. Location

- Core Measurements

***Acquire the right samples***

***ID best place on the sample***

***3+ mutually confirming A/B measurements***

***Context***

- Requirement

- Mast
- Mast/Arm
- Lab/Arm
- Arm

- Lab
- Arm

- Lab

- Lab
- Lab/Arm
- Lab

## AFL Payload AnalysisEnvironment –specific 

- _Hydrothermal AFL_
- NO CHANGE—AFL CORE IS SUFFICIENT
- _Sedimentary AFL_
- NO CHANGE—AFL CORE IS SUFFICIENT
- _Ice AFL_
- REQUIRED:  Instrument to detect liquid H2O (inclusions, thin films) in collected samples
- OPTIONAL:  Subsurface ice- and water-detecting geophysics
- May require 2-3 m drill

***AFL Payload Analysis*****Environment –specific ******

_**AFL SSG FINDING**_:  The following incremental changes would need to be made to the AFL Core Measurements to carry out the various** **theme missions.

- _Liquid Water AFL_
- Different collection and sample handling.
- Instrument to detect liquid H2O in collected samples
- Compound-specific analytical suite*.*
- Various tests for viable life.
- Recon-scale min. and comp. _OR_ Definitive Mineralogy
- Mid-scale imaging
- _Polar Icecap AFL_
- Different sampling/prep system as for ice AFL
- Drop target acquisition  instruments
- Possibly drop mobility
- Add drill or cryobot

## AFL Payload AnalysisSample Acquisition Strategy

_**SSG CONSENSUS:  Required Sample Acquisition systems:**_
- _Corer_: Arm mounted device for obtaining 100 1 cm (dia.) core samples to a depth of < 30 cm.
- _RAT: _Arm mounted device to remove the outer 1 cm of weathered material and dust.
- _Scoop_: Arm mounted device to collect RAT fragments, unconsolidated relogith and surface samples.
_**No SSG CONSENSUS:**_
- _Drill_:  A system for obtaining a core sample from 1-3 m depth. This issue is deferred to a subsequent team to debate in more detail.

## AFL Payload AnalysisSample Preparation

***AFL Payload Analysis*****Sample Preparation**

- Precision sub-sampling (scale: 4 - 5 mm, mass: 100 mg, positional accuracy: < 2 mm, temperature < -20 C. 50 samples over lifetime.)
- Extraction (either by heat or by solvents, or both).
- Comminution

_***SAMPLE TYPE***_

_***PREPARATION***_

- Drill core, surface rocks, regolith

- none

- Drill cuttings

- No melting of sample above ambient melting temperature(or - 20 C).
- Minimal contact with daylight to avoid sublimation or volatilization of constituent molecules.

- Ice

- TBD

- Liquid Water

## Engineering Analysis - Core

_*Engineering Assumptions (Level 1 Requirements)*_
- Launch: Not earlier than 2013 (ref MEP roadmap)
- Launch vehicle: Atlas V or Delta IV series
- All instrument and subsystem technologies: All current technologies either being developed, or are to be developed under existing technology road maps. Technology Readiness Level of 6  for entire system will be 2009
- Desired latitude ranges: Sedimentary/hydrothermal: +60 to –60 and ice: +45 to +85.
- Landing altitude: 2.5 km or less relative to the MOLA geoid.
- Precision landing: 10x10 km (3-sigma) landing dispersion ellipse
- “Go-to” mobility:  10-15 km (linear traverse) with autonomous hazard avoidance and continual drive
- Sample and sample acquisition: Core acquisition (10 cm in length and 1 cm in diameter) with  precession sub sampling with analytical analysis system
- Number of physical samples for detailed pyrolysis and wet chemistry analyses: 25-75
- Handling, processing, and  analysis capabilities: rock, regolith, ice and water
- Expected terrain features: 10% rock abundance, and slopes up to 30%
- Telecom: Mars Telecom Orbiter, second generation available for increased data transmission
- Power source: Radioisotopic Thermal Generator (RTG)
- Redundancy: Functional on subsystems, science payload not included

## Engineering Analysis - Core

_*AFL 2013 Baseline mission: AFL SSG Core*_
- Mass (30% reserves): Launched - 2456 kg, Rover - 548 kg, Science payload - 114 kg
- Launch: November, 2013 to January, 2014; Arrival: August - September, 2014 (Depending on S or N preference); Launcher: Atlas V511 or similar Delta IV
- Payload infrastructure: Core and detailed sample handling system, ability to extract subsamples 4 - 5 mm from acquired core/sample
- Selected 10 instruments: 2 remote sensing -, 2 contact -, and 6 analytical laboratory instruments. All the contact and remote sensing instruments are able to analyze the obtained core.
- Telecom: X-Band, Rover to MTO (10 bps – 1024 kbps, 0.3 m HGA); UHF-Band, MTO to rover (1 kbps - 8 kbps, Monopole); X-band DTE only as Back-Up
- Avionics: X2000 - cPCI-based avionics, RAD750, 16 Gbits memory
- Data volume per sol: 1-3 Gbits
- Power:  4 Brick Small RPS system (50 We/1200WeHRS); 2 x 8 Ahr-Li-Ion Batteries
- Drive train: Brushless Wheel Actuators (16-25 W per wheel:100-150W for all wheels)
- 0.1 km/sol at 2 hours per sol
- Thermal: Passive system/thermal switches: Dissipate RPS energy (1000 W) and keeps WEB at stable temperature

## AFL-SSG CoreRover Concept 

- Remote Sensing: 2

- Analytical Lab: 6

- Contact Sensors: 2

- Arm

- Precision Sample
- Handling

- LGA

- HGA

- RTG

- Radiator

- Coring Device