"Expedition in a jar: anticipatory objects in the search for life on Mars"

This article re-examines the role of glassware in scientific expeditions by introducing the concept of "anticipatory objects." Traditionally, glass containers like those used on the HMS Challenger expedition served to preserve and transport specimens, extending fieldwork back to the laboratory. However, this study focuses on Mars jars, small environmental simulations of other planets and moons, primarily used in astrobiology, the field searching for evidence of extraterrestrial life. Unlike traditional specimen jars, Mars jars do not contain samples returned from outer space; instead, they do their work in advance, before an expedition departs. They motivate and shape future missions by making distant locations of interest virtually present ahead of time. The article traces the use of Mars jars from Hubertus Strughold's early experiments for the U.S. Air Force in the 1950s, which framed extraterrestrial life as a potential resource for Cold War outposts, to NASA's civilian-led research in the 1960s, which used them to justify missions of scientific discovery and establish planetary protection protocols. By simulating hoped-for destinations, Mars jars demonstrate how an expedition can begin in vitro influencing real missions that follow.