Life Marker Chip Wet Chemistry Development Management
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Leicester
Department Name: Physics and Astronomy
Abstract
The Life Marker Chip instrument is being developed to search for Life on Mars by looking for organic molecules (biomarkers) that might be assocaited with Life. The instrument needs further development of the chemistry side of the instrument that detects the biomarkers. This grant provides funding for the Lead Institute and Principal Investigator to manage this work being undertaken at Cranfield University and Imperial College London. The Life Marker Chip instrument is being developed for a mission to Mars in 2018 as part of the joint ESA/NASA Mars Exploration Programme.
People |
ORCID iD |
| Mark Sims (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Court R
(2012)
Potential failure of life detection experiments on Mars resulting from adsorption of organic compounds on to common instrument materials
in Planetary and Space Science
Court R
(2012)
Extraction of polar and nonpolar biomarkers from the martian soil using aqueous surfactant solutions
in Planetary and Space Science
Court R
(2010)
Novel solvent systems for in situ extraterrestrial sample analysis
in Planetary and Space Science
Court R. W.
(2011)
THE LIFE MARKER CHIP-EXTRACTING POLAR AND NONPOLAR BIOMARKERS FROM THE MARTIAN SOIL USING A SURFACTANT-BASED SOLVENT
in METEORITICS & PLANETARY SCIENCE
Court RW
(2014)
Searching for life on Mars: degradation of surfactant solutions used in organic extraction experiments.
in Astrobiology
Derveni M
(2012)
Effects of simulated space radiation on immunoassay components for life-detection experiments in planetary exploration missions.
in Astrobiology
Luong D
(2014)
Extracting organic matter on Mars: A comparison of methods involving subcritical water, surfactant solutions and organic solvents
in Planetary and Space Science
Sathe M
(2011)
Synthesis and characterisation of immunogens for the production of antibodies against small hydrophobic molecules with biosignature properties.
in Analytica chimica acta
Sephton M
(2013)
Searching for biomolecules on Mars: Considerations for operation of a life marker chip instrument
in Planetary and Space Science
| Description | This grant was part of a series to develop the Life Marker Chip instrument for Mars, for details please see ST/i00209X/1 |
| Description | STFC PPRP |
| Amount | £60,019 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 02/2010 |
| End | 04/2010 |
| Description | LMC Engineering Collaboration 3B |
| Organisation | Magna Parva |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Contributions are instrument Life Marker Chip funded by grant with appropriate IP and engineering and scientific design work |
| Collaborator Contribution | Investigation of technologies that can be jointly developed along with sharing of test facilities |
| Impact | See grant ST/I00209X/1 |
| Start Year | 2007 |
| Description | Schools Societies Various |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Many questions asked during talks |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2009,2010 |