In-Situ Soil Spectroscopy for Detecting Astrobiological Signatures on Planetary Analog Surfaces

Detecting potential biosignatures in planetary soils requires instrumentation that is compact, robust, and field-deployable on a mobile rover. This work presents an in-situ science payload integrating reflectance spectroscopy with onboard sample handling for the rapid characterisation of soil composition. We outline a measurement protocol for screening samples for organic and mineralogical indicators relevant to astrobiology. Results from terrestrial analog sites show the system can discriminate between sample classes with limited operator intervention. The payload was designed for the science mission of international rover challenges and is suitable for autonomous field operation.