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Updated: May 28, 2026

Emission Spectroscopic Boundary Layer Investigation during Ablative Material Testing in Plasmatron

Emission Spectroscopic Boundary Layer Investigation during Ablative Material Testing in Plasmatron

Published on: June 9, 2016

Combining meteorites and missions to explore Mars.

Timothy J McCoy¹, Catherine M Corrigan, Christopher D K Herd

¹Department of Mineral Sciences, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, 10th and Constitution Avenues NW, Washington, DC 20560-0119, USA. mccoyt@si.edu

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America

|October 5, 2011

Summary

Martian meteorites offer clues to the Red Planet's past, but their igneous history conflicts with recent mission findings. Understanding Mars' habitability requires integrating meteorite data with spacecraft exploration and future sample return missions.

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Area of Science:

Planetary Science
Astrobiology
Geology

Background:

Martian meteorites provide indirect evidence of Mars' geological history and atmospheric composition.
Robotic exploration has revealed Mars' past water activity and volcanic evolution, but lacks direct atmospheric samples.
The discovery of trapped gases in a meteorite confirmed its Martian origin, linking meteorite studies with mission findings.

Purpose of the Study:

To reconcile the igneous history inferred from Martian meteorites with data from recent Mars missions.
To investigate the potential for past life on Mars, spurred by findings in the Allan Hills 84001 meteorite.
To emphasize the need for sample return missions to fully understand Mars' history and habitability.

Main Methods:

Laboratory analysis of Martian meteorites, including isotopic composition and age dating.
Impact ejection modeling and spectral mapping of Mars to infer meteorite source locations.
Comparison of meteorite-derived geological histories with data from Mars exploration spacecraft.

Main Results:

Martian meteorites suggest a protracted igneous evolution from a magma ocean over 4.5 Ga.
The Allan Hills 84001 meteorite, dated at 4.09 Ga, contains fluid-deposited carbonates with features suggestive of past microbial life.
Inferred igneous history from meteorites conflicts with recent Mars mission findings, questioning its applicability to the entire planet.

Conclusions:

The igneous history inferred from Martian meteorites may not represent Mars as a whole.
The potential for past life on Mars remains a significant area of interest, driving further exploration.
Sample return missions are crucial for a comprehensive understanding of Mars' history, atmosphere, surface, and subsurface interactions.