The exobiology exploration of Mars: a survey of the European approaches

The similarities between the early histories of Mars and Earth raise the co ncomitant basic question: does our knowledge of primitive terrestrial life and of the early history of Mars allow us to expect life to have developed on Mars? The paper by McKay et al. (1996. Science 273, 924-930.) reported p ossible relic biogenic activity in a Martian meteorite. Although this disco very is certain to be controversial, it gave a new impetus to the search fo r fossil life on Mars. American, European and Japanese space agencies have planned a very intensive exploration of Mars with a great emphasis on exobi ology. Here are summarized the European approaches including the European S pace Agency (ESA) Exobiology Multi-user Facility and the Beagle 2 exobiolog y lander of the ESA Mars Express mission. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. Al l rights reserved.