LifeSpringsMARS
News
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Exciting New Research!
Read the abstract for 'Exploring the Internal Textures and Physical Properties of Digitate Sinter in Hot Springs: Implications for Remote Sampling on Mars' by following this link or the full paper here:
Collaborative pathways
December, 2023 – Dr Brett Biddington OAM, introduced LifeSpringsMars Director, Prof. Martin Van Kranendonk, to two senior representatives of the Southwest Research Institute to discuss their possible involvement in the LifeSpringsMars mission. SwRI had returned to Australia after a trip early in the year to investigate Australia’s involvement in space to pursue two possible avenues of engagement, one being our mission. This engagement continues and is being discussed in an upcoming meeting in February 2024.
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Read more about the Southwest Research Institute’s Earth and space science programs here.
LifeSpringsMars 2023 team meeting summary
Sept 4-6, 2023 – A successful In-person meeting of the LifeSpringsMars team was held at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia. Follow this link to read a summary of what was discussed.
Events
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Upcoming Events:
March 22, 2024: "Life on Mars" public event
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Join LifeSpringsMars Director, Prof. Martin Van Kranendonk, LifeSpringsMars Science Team leader Prof. Kathleen Campbell, Australia’s Prof. Tamara Davis, and Dr Jorge Vago of the European Space Agency for an evening discussing the possibility of “Life on Mars” at the World Science Festival in Brisbane. Hosted by ABC TV’s Graham Phillips, “Life on Mars” is an event of confluence expert knowledge that transports the audience through time and space.
Professor Martin Van Kranendonk reveals how clues for Mars exploration and the origin of life can be found hidden within ancient life forms and geological processes. Professor Kathleen Campbell exposes the parallels between Martian geology and Earth’s oldest ecosystems and share insights into the search for extra-terrestrial biosignatures.
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From Earth’s primordial landscapes to the volcanic terrains of Mars, get ready to expand your knowledge of the universe and the bounds of possibility! See “Life on Mars” on the 22nd of March 2024 at the Playhouse in QPAC, South Brisbane. Tickets can be purchased by following this link.
Past Events:
September 4-6, 2023: LifeSpringsMars team meeting at UNSW.
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September 25 - 27, 2023: 21st Australian Space Research Conference, Hobart, Australia http://www.nssa.com.au/21asrc/
Prof. Van Kranendonk announced the LifeSpringsMars mission at the Australian Space Summit on May 17th, 2023.
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June 13-15, 2023: Join us for Australasia Astrobiology Meeting 2024 at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia https://www.student.unsw.edu.au/events/2023/05/2023-australasia-astrobiology-meeting
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June 19-24, 2023: NASA's Mars program directorate, the Lead of ESA's ExoMars mission, and two members of the Australian Space Agency will travel to the Pilbara to see the early life sites and engage with the local Njamal people under the leadership of Prof. Van Kranendonk.
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July 5-7, 2023: UNSW CubeSatPlus Innovation & Development Workshop 2023 https://www.acser.unsw.edu.au/cubesatplus2023
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