UK Researcher May Help Look for Life on Mars

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 13, 2015) – Robert Lodder, a University of Kentucky professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences with joint appointments in Electrical and Computer Engineering and Chemistry, is part of an international team of researchers who have recently submitted an experiment proposal to look for evidence of life on Mars. The proposal has made it through the first of two levels of review.

If selected at the next level by NASA and the United Kingdom Space Agency, the project would be the first effort to look for evidence of current life on Mars since the Viking expedition in 1976. The proposal would be a part of the Curiosity rover's Extended Mission objectives from October 2015-2019 as the rover makes the long climb to the top of the 8-kilometer Mount Sharp.

The proposal seeks to use the frequencies of special spectroscopic filters on the Mast Camera and microscopic imager camera on the Curiosity to look for evidence of microorganisms. Because the rover wheels sometimes break open or turn over rocks, the scientists advise examining these fresh surfaces for possible intact microorganisms.

The group of scientists who submitted the proposal also includes two members of the University of Buckingham's Centre for Astrobiology, and professors from Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona. and the University of Siena in Italy. 

“Our team began working on a similar experiment over a decade ago that was scheduled to launch in 2013, but the mission was cancelled for budgetary reasons," Lodder said. "Even though this represents a more limited effort, it would be great to finally get to try.”

Media Contact:  Kristi Lopez, kristi.lopez@uky.edu