Submission timeline: Oct 15, 2020 to Feb 15, 2021

Description:

In the early 2020’s the next generation of Mars rover missions will be driven by the search for evidence of life - NASA’s Perseverance rover caching samples at the sediment fan in Jezero crater, and ESA’s Rosalind Franklin rover investigating samples from the near subsurface in Oxia Planum (now to be launched in 2022). These rovers will be equipped with a range of analytical instruments for geochemical and organic analysis to help achieve this goal through the identification of biosignatures. Therefore, is it important to have an understanding of the types of biosignatures that might exist, their preservation, subsequent alteration from surface processes and possible detection by current and future Mars missions.

Guest Editors:

Nisha Ramkissoon, School of Environment, Earth and Ecosystem Sciences, Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, The Open University, Gass Building, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes, UK, MK7 6AA
Email: nisha.ramkissoon@open.ac.uk

Louisa Preston, Department of Earth Sciences, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, UK, SW7 5BD
Email: l.preston@nhm.ac.uk

Plus Associate Editor: Mark Burchell, Centre for Astrophysics and Planetary Science,University of Kent, Canterbury, UK, CT2 7NH
Email: m.j.burchell@kent.ac.uk