Search for criteria relating to past life on Mars including:
- presence of water
- existence of carbonate minerals
- occurrence of organic residues
- complexity and structure of organic material
- isotopic fractionation between organic and inorganic phases.
Seek trace atmospheric species indicative of extant life.
Measure the detailed atmospheric composition to establish the geological history of the planet and to document the processes involved in seasonal climatic changes or diurnal cycling.
Investigate the oxidative state of the martian surface, rock interiors and beneath boulders.
Examine the geological nature of the rocks, their chemistry, mineralogy, petrology and age.
Characterise the geomorphology of the landing site.
Appraise the environmental conditions including temperature, pressure, wind speed, UV flux, oxidation potential, dust environment etc.
Read on and see how Beagle 2 will set out to answer the questions....
