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Mars Astrobiology: Recent Status and Progress

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Planetary Exploration and Science: Recent Results and Advances

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Abstract

In this chapter, we begin making a brief review on the history of the studies of planet Mars. Then, we review the modern research (with recent status, data, results, and progress) on the search for possible extinct or extant life on Mars, with special emphasis on the search for the presence (in the past and/or presently) of liquid water within Mars’ surface and subsurface – a prerequisite for the evolution from geochemical state to biogeochemical state, as we are aware of here on planet Earth. Through the chapter, I present some proposals of mine about the astrobiology of Mars. We also analyze recent astrobiological experiments on board the International Space Station (ISS) for the future exploration of Mars. And we make a brief review on the evolution of equipment for its exploration and of future manned presence on the beautiful planet Mars – the “Red Planet.”

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Acknowledgments

I would like to acknowledge the most valuable comments, good advices for my international efforts, and sincere friendships by Dr. Adriana Ocampo, NASA Headquarters, and by Dr. Pascale Ehrenfreund (George Washington University), Dr. José Helayël-Neto (CBPF), Dr. Sebastião Dias (CBPF), Dr. Álvaro Nogueira (CBPF), Dr. João dos Anjos (ON), Dr. Joseph Boardman (Analytical Imaging and Geophysics, LLC.), Dr. Christopher McKay, Dr. Carol Stoker, Dr. Nathalie Cabrol, Dr. Heather Smith, Dr. Geoffrey Briggs (retired), and Dr. Scott Hubbard (Stanford University), NASA–Ames Research Center, since my studies and work at NASA–Ames in July 1999.

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  1. Brazilian Center of Physics Research, Rua Dr. Xavier Sigaud, 150, 3° andar, LAFEX, Urca, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 22290-180, Brazil

    Antonio de Morais M. Teles

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Correspondence to Antonio de Morais M. Teles .

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  1. Shanghai Astronomical Observatory, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China

    Shuanggen Jin

  2. University of Hawaii-Manoa NASA Astrobiology Institute, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

    Nader Haghighipour

  3. National Central University, Taoyuan, Taiwan

    Wing-Huen Ip

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de Morais M. Teles, A. (2015). Mars Astrobiology: Recent Status and Progress. In: Jin, S., Haghighipour, N., Ip, WH. (eds) Planetary Exploration and Science: Recent Results and Advances. Springer Geophysics. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-45052-9_8

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