Definition
Mars analogue sites are places on Earth that present one or more geological or environmental features similar to those found on Mars, either current or past.
History
Studies of Mars analogue sites have been an integral part of comparative planetary science, space exploration, and astrobiology for over a half-century (Léveillé 2010a). Following the successful Mariner missions of the 1960s, planetary scientists began studying in more detail Mars-like features and environments on Earth, including volcanic and erosional systems, glacial and thermokarst features, dunes, playas, and impact craters. Mars analogue sites were later studied in order to plan for possible landing sites for the Viking mission. Similarly, Mars analogue sites were used to test NASA’s earliest life-detection instruments. Early microbiological studies of desert soils, including some from Antarcticaand the Atacama, focused on the adaptations and survivability of microorganisms under Mars-like conditions....
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References and Further Reading
Borg LE, Des Marais DJ, Beaty DW, Aharonson O, Benner SA, Bogard DD, Bridges JC, Budney CJ, Calvin WM, Clark BC, Eigenbrode JL, Grady MM, Head JW, Hemming SR, Hinners NW, Hipkin V, MacPherson GJ, Marinangeli L, McLennan SM, McSween HY, Moersch JE, Nealson KH, Pratt LM, Righter K, Ruff SW, Shearer CK, Steele A, Sumner DY, Symes SJ, Vago JL, Westall F (2008) Science priorities for Mars sample return. Astrobiology 8:489–536
Chapman MG (2007) The geology of Mars: evidence from Earth-based analogs. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge
Farr TG (2004) Terrestrial analogs to Mars: the NRC community decadal report. Planet Space Sci 52:3–10
Léveillé RJ (2009) Validation of astrobiology technologies and instrument operations in terrestrial analogue environments. CR Palevol 8:637–648
Léveillé RJ (2010a) A half-century of terrestrial analog studies: from craters on the Moon to searching for life on Mars. Planet Space Sci 58:631–638
Léveillé RJ (2010b) The role of terrestrial analogue environments in astrobiology. In: Gargaud M, Lopez-Garcia P, Martin H (eds) Origin and evolution of life: an astrobiology perspective, chapter 30. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 507–522
National Research Council (2007) An astrobiology strategy for the exploration of Mars. National Academies Press, Washington
Osinski GR, Léveillé R, Berinstain A, Lebeuf M, Bamsey M (2006) Terrestrial analogues to Mars and the moon: Canada’s role. Geosci Can 33:175–188
Rothschild LJ, Mancinelli RL (2001) Life in extreme environments. Nature 409:1092–1101
Snook K, Glass B, Briggs G, Jasper J (2007) Integrated analog mission design for planetary exploration with humans and robots. In: Chapman M (ed) The geology of Mars: evidence from Earth-based analogs. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 424–455
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Léveillé, R. (2014). Mars Analogue Sites. In: Amils, R., et al. Encyclopedia of Astrobiology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_939-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_939-3
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Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
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