Radiation Climate on Mars as Relevant to Exobiology

The objective of this in-situ experiment is to characterise the radiation climate on the surface of Mars. This entails measuring the fluxes of neutral and charged particles of galactic and solar origin; and the solar UV radiation spectrum. Special emphasis will be placed on determining the biological effectiveness of the various radiation components, and their time variation (diurnal, seasonal, and in relation to solar activity). The results will contribute to our understanding of Martian meteorology; and will help to assess the possibility of finding life on, or below, the planets surface; it will also give an insight onto the radiation protection necessary for manned Mars missions.

U.K Based researchers involved in this project

J. C. Zarnecki

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