WORLD-LEADING MARS SCIENTISTS TO TOUR PILBARA

BY CONRAD MACLEAN

Martin Van Krenendonk on his last visit to the Pilbara Region. Credit: Supplied.

Later this month, scientists from leading space agencies around the world will tour the Pilbara in an effort to support future missions to Mars. 

NASA’s Mars Program Lead will join personnel from the European and Australian Space Agencies on a five day trip to gain an understanding of billion year traces of life in the Pilbara. 

University of New South Wales Geology Professor Martin Van Kranendonk is leading the trip.

He said understanding what early signs of life look like in the Pilbara will help scientists know what to look for when they search for signs of life on Mars. 

“These experts in space exploration, come to the Pilbara, really to learn what they should be looking for on Mars and more importantly where to look,” he said.

“The Pilbara is the key stone for understanding where to go in search for life on Mars. It always has been and it remains that way because it is the oldest best preserved traces of life anywhere on planet earth.”