“Mars Sample Return” is an EAI Project Team.
Research Centre for Astronomy and Earth Sciences, Hungary
The MSR-PT aims to support the preparation and realization of the Mars Sample Return (MSR) initiative, focusing on the European contribution for astrobiology aspects, and also working concurrently with related international efforts, mainly the activities of ESA and NASA. This project team will support the scientific agenda of MSR by direct research activities (providing expertise in astrobiological disciplines indispensable for MSR, such as microbiology, paleobiology, mineralogy, geology, geochemistry, planetology, chemistry, planetary protection, philosophy etc.). The project team will initiate collaborations, which will widen participation using the interdisciplinary links provided the EAI between their members. However, this project does not intend to orient or influence already existing groups and their activities, but to support collaborative interdisciplinary research that will lead to results in cross-domain disciplines. It will also provide opportunities for researchers at institutions that are not yet involved in the international research to become active in MSR research.
The European Astrobiology Institute (EAI) is hosted by The European Science Foundation