C.A. van Sluis
Papers
1
Total Citations
47
H-Index
1
About
C.A. van Sluis is a planetary scientist whose research focuses on astrobiology and the habitability of Mars, with a particular emphasis on preparing for future robotic exploration missions. Her most cited work, a 2011 study on "Astrobiology and habitability studies in preparation for future Mars missions," has garnered 47 citations and examines trends in investigating minerals, organics, and biota at Mars analogue sites. Van Sluis's major contribution lies in bridging field research at extreme desert environments—such as the Atacama or Antarctic dry valleys—with instrument calibration and landing site strategies for upcoming Mars rovers and landers. By analyzing how mineralogy and organic signatures interact in terrestrial analogues, she has helped refine the detection limits of life-detection instruments, directly informing mission planning for NASA and ESA's Mars exploration programs. Her work underscores the critical role of analogue studies in reducing the risk of false positives or negatives when searching for biosignatures beyond Earth. Van Sluis's research continues to shape how scientists interpret data from Mars, making her a key figure in the interdisciplinary effort to understand planetary habitability.
Research Focus
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Top Papers
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