Eastern Kentucky University
Environmental Analysis of Mars and Mars Analogues
Grade Level at Time of Presentation
Junior
Major
Forensic Science
Minor
Chemistry
Institution 24-25
Eastern Kentucky University
KY House District #
6
KY Senate District #
34
Faculty Advisor/ Mentor
Laura Rowe
Department
Department of Chemistry and Forensic Science
Abstract
Abstract
Microbial life has been found in many different environments on Earth, even extremely hot or radioactive ones. For example, several microorganisms can survive for months outside the International Space Station. When looking for extinct or current life on other planets, studying these extreme environments on Earth (called terrestrial analogue sites) and what lives in them is an important area of current space research. The extreme environment related to this research is one that is highly acidic (low pH) and contains a lot of iron and other metals, such as the environment on Mars. On Earth, terrestrial analogue sites to Mars typically come from acid mine drainage sites. The main aim of this research is to conduct a biological and chemical analysis of the Rock Creek acid mine drainage site in eastern Kentucky to assess if it qualifies as a terrestrial analogue to Mars. Examining the chemistry and life in those conditions may give clues for further examination of past or future life on Mars. NASA has already identified acid mine drainage waters in the Rio Tinto in Spain as a Mars terrestrial analogue sites, so the data from Rock Creek will be compared to the data from the Rio Tinto to examine if Rock Creek is a terrestrial analogue to Mars. Our hypothesis is that Rock Creek acid mine drainage will have chemical properties similar enough to previously discovered terrestrial analogue sites to be useful in future space research. The field work we have already conducted indicates that the Rock Creek site has a pH of approximately 3, in comparison to the Rio Tinto having a pH of 2.22. In the future, we will determine and compare additional chemical and biological properties (such as types of microorganisms present) of Rock Creek to the Rio Tinto acid mine drainage site.
Environmental Analysis of Mars and Mars Analogues
Abstract
Microbial life has been found in many different environments on Earth, even extremely hot or radioactive ones. For example, several microorganisms can survive for months outside the International Space Station. When looking for extinct or current life on other planets, studying these extreme environments on Earth (called terrestrial analogue sites) and what lives in them is an important area of current space research. The extreme environment related to this research is one that is highly acidic (low pH) and contains a lot of iron and other metals, such as the environment on Mars. On Earth, terrestrial analogue sites to Mars typically come from acid mine drainage sites. The main aim of this research is to conduct a biological and chemical analysis of the Rock Creek acid mine drainage site in eastern Kentucky to assess if it qualifies as a terrestrial analogue to Mars. Examining the chemistry and life in those conditions may give clues for further examination of past or future life on Mars. NASA has already identified acid mine drainage waters in the Rio Tinto in Spain as a Mars terrestrial analogue sites, so the data from Rock Creek will be compared to the data from the Rio Tinto to examine if Rock Creek is a terrestrial analogue to Mars. Our hypothesis is that Rock Creek acid mine drainage will have chemical properties similar enough to previously discovered terrestrial analogue sites to be useful in future space research. The field work we have already conducted indicates that the Rock Creek site has a pH of approximately 3, in comparison to the Rio Tinto having a pH of 2.22. In the future, we will determine and compare additional chemical and biological properties (such as types of microorganisms present) of Rock Creek to the Rio Tinto acid mine drainage site.