Computational Approaches towards Life Detection by Mass Spectrometry

Starting from the data obtained in 2014 by the COSAC instrument on board the lander of the ROSETTA mission this presentation shows problems and sketches solutions towards the identification of small organic compounds detected by mass spectrometers on future astrobiology-related exploration missions for solar system targets. Several approaches towards mass spectrometry-based compound identification and life detection are discussed. It is concluded that machine learning and pattern recognition methods will play an important role for computationally separating samples of biotic and abiotic origin.