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NASA Takes Part in 'Mars Underwater' Expedition in South America
NASA scientists are now on a 'Mars Underwater' analog expedition until Nov. 23, investigating the limits of life in some of Earth's highest lakes in South America's Andes Mountains.
More than 20 expedition members - some on a dive team that includes NASA astronaut and medical doctor Scott Parazynski -- will be diving and working near the world's highest alpine lake, nearly 20,000 feet up the Licancabur volcano, on the border between Chile and Bolivia. Expedition members are from NASA; the NASA Astrobiology Institute; the SETI Institute, Mountain View, Calif.; and Stanford University, Stanford, Calif.
"By exploring the best analogs on Earth to ancient martian lakes, we will seek answers to the biological potential of the red planet and learn how to recognize life's signatures," said expedition leader Nathalie Cabrol of NASA Ames Research Center in California's Silicon Valley and the SETI Institute. Expedition members are examining underwater habitats and the short- and long-term effects of UV radiation on life because scientists think conditions in the lakes may be like those on ancient Mars some 3.5 billion years ago.
"The discovery of an ancient dry lake 30 times the volume of Lake Erie in Meridiani Planum (on Mars) and altered rocks in Gusev in the Columbia Hills is solid evidence of a sustained and abundant water activity over long periods of time," according to the Mars Underwater project's summary document.
"These lakes (in South America) are open windows into the past habitability and biological potential of Mars," the report adds.
Scientists are seeking to identify how microbial life in shallow water may adapt itself to be able to live in higher levels of UV radiation. In addition, researchers hope to explore ways to detect potential martian life.
"Our team also will become part of the experiment," Cabrol said. "Studying life at the extreme provides the unique opportunity to explore human physiology and ability to adapt in extreme environments, where cold, low atmospheric pressure and high winds are only a few of the environmental extremes encountered," Cabrol added.
A lightweight, portable device called 'LifeGuard' developed by John Hines' group at NASA Ames and Stanford scientists is enabling physicians to monitor the health and safety of the explorers in the remote location. The wireless LifeGuard system eventually may be used in space to monitor astronauts during space travel.
The LifeGuard units can send real-time vital signs from team members at the volcano to scientists at other locations by satellite. The system allows real-time monitoring of vital parameters such as heart rate, blood pressure, electrocardiogram (EKG), breathing rate and temperature. It also can measure human movements in three dimensions.
More information about the expedition is on the Internet at:
http://extremeenvironment.arc.nasa.gov/2004/main2.shtml
Dolores Beasley
Headquarters, Washington
Phone: 202-358-1753
John Bluck
NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field Calif.
Phone: 650-604-5026 or 604-9000
Karen Randall
SETI Institute, Mountain View, Calif.
Phone: 650-960-4537
Release: 04-xxAR
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