Enhancing Mars Life Explorer (MLE) with True Agnostic Life Detection Capabilities

TL;DR

This paper discusses enhancing the Mars Life Explorer mission with advanced, unbiased life detection tools and policies to ensure scientific integrity before potential human contamination.

Contribution

It proposes specific instrumentation upgrades and governance measures to enable definitive, agnostic life detection on Mars, addressing current limitations.

Findings

Current MLE architecture emphasizes habitability over direct life detection.

Instrumental and policy upgrades are necessary for definitive life detection.

Timely implementation is crucial before contamination risks increase.

Abstract

The Mars Life Explorer (MLE) mission concept offers a critical opportunity to investigate whether extant life exists within the mid-latitude ice deposits of Mars. However, MLE's current science traceability matrix emphasizes habitability assessment and organic chemistry over direct life detection. As crewed missions to Mars may occur as early as 2040, the window for uncontaminated robotic exploration is rapidly closing. A high-confidence determination of Martian life must be achieved before irreversible anthropogenic contamination compromises scientific integrity. This paper evaluates the scientific, technical, and policy limitations of the current MLE architecture and recommends specific instrumentation upgrades and governance measures necessary to enable definitive and agnostic life detection while safeguarding planetary protection.