Mars polar ice sample return mission - 1.
Abstract
It is argued that ice core samples from the Mars polar caps would give more information about the planet than any other single type of unmanned exploration. The examination of ice core samples would provide information useful to the following planetary studies: atmospheric composition, meteorology, climatology, planetary composition and chemistry, and biochemistry, biological evolution, and the study of microorganisms. Reference is made to Viking I photographs, and particular attention is given to the contributions that ice core samples can make to knowledge of climatology, glaciation, dust storms, volcanism, and the biosphere.
- Publication:
-
Spaceflight
- Pub Date:
- November 1976
- Bibcode:
- 1976SpFl...18..383S
- Keywords:
-
- Core Sampling;
- Ice Environments;
- Mars Sample Return Missions;
- Mars Surface Samples;
- Polar Regions;
- Viking Mars Program;
- Climatology;
- Dust Storms;
- Exobiology;
- Life Detectors;
- Volcanology;
- Lunar and Planetary Exploration