Yorkshire scientists seek life on Mars

ACADEMICS from Yorkshire are to work on a mission developing new equipment to search for signs of life on Mars.

Bradford University is part of an international project to design instruments for a robotic mission in 2018 which is hoped could help pave the way for future human exploration.

In preparation, scientists will help to construct a life marker chip which will search out for evidence of organic modules beneath the planet's surface.

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The ExoMars mission aims to study the chemical, geological and potential biological environment on Mars in preparation for future robotic and manned missions. It has been developed by the European Space Agency and American space agency Nasa.

The work to develop new instruments for the spacecraft was announced yesterday by Leicester University.

Prof Mark Sims said: "ExoMars is a key mission in the exploration of Mars.

"It will attempt to gather samples from a depth one to two metres below the surface where they are protected from radiation and oxidants thought to exist on the surface."

University College London, Aberystwyth University, Cranfield University and Imperial College London are also involved in the mission.