ASTID

Spotting Spores

Adrian Ponce, deputy manager for JPL’s planetary science section, has devised a new microscope-based method to quickly validate — from days to minutes — a spacecraft’s cleanliness. The method will help in decontaminating spacecraft before launch, and could have medical and pharmaceutical uses on Earth.

Source: [JPL]

October 27, 2009 / Posted by: Aaron Gronstal

Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Sees Ice Exposed by Meteor Impact

NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has revealed frozen water hiding just below the surface of mid-latitude Mars. The spacecraft’s observations were obtained from orbit after meteorites excavated fresh craters on the Red Planet.

Scientists controlling instruments on the orbiter found bright ice exposed at five Martian sites with new craters that range in depth from approximately half a meter to 2.5 meters (1.5 feet to 8 feet). The craters did not exist in earlier images of the same sites. Some of the craters show a thin layer of bright ice atop darker underlying material. The bright patches darkened...

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Source: [NASA Press Release]

September 24, 2009 / Posted by: Daniella Scalice

Space Hand-Me-Downs

Much of the biology on Earth involves molecules that are oriented in a left-handed direction. A proposed nano-satellite would carry up some of these bio-molecules to see if something in space might be responsible for this left-handed excess. The project is part of the Astrobiology Science and Technology Instrument Development and Mission Concept Studies.

Source: [astrobio.net]

September 17, 2009 / Written by: Michael Schirber

AbSciCon 2010 First Announcement

The Astrobiology Science Conference 2010 will be held at the Lunar and Planetary Institute (LPI) April 26–29, 2010. Please submit the Indication of Intent form http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/abscicon2010/iofi/ by October 1, 2009, in order to be added to the mailing list to receive reminders and other pertinent information related to the conference.

          Lunar and Planetary Institute               

August 7, 2009 / Posted by: Marco Boldt

Planetary Science Decadal Survey: White Papers Posted for Comment

Comments are being solicited from members of the astrobiology community on the following paper(s) that will be submitted to the 2009-2011 Planetary Science Decadal Survey. Papers will be revised based on community feedback. Additonal papers will be posted here as they become available.

• Astrobiology Research Priorities for Exoplanets (Last Updated: May 28, 2009)
• Astrobiology Research Priorities for Mercury, Venus, and the Moon (Added: June 8, 2009)
• Astrobiology Research Priorities for Mars (Added: June 10, 2009)
• Astrobiology Research Priorities for the Outer Solar System (Added June 15, 2009)
• Astrobiology Research Priorities for Primitive Asteroids (Added July 22,...

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July 27, 2009 / Posted by: Marco Boldt

Lead Astrobiology Civil Servant Position Now Available

The Planetary Science Division of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate is now advertising for the senior Program Scientist for Astrobiology. In general, this civil servant will oversee the science content and execution of the Astrobiology Program. A detailed description of the position and how to apply for this opportunity can be found on http://www.usajobs.gov/ with a announcement number (or search number): HQ09B0156. This position opened on July 10 and will close August 10, 2009. I encourage anyone who is interested to apply.

James L. Green
Director Planetary Science Division

July 10, 2009 / Written by: James Green

Salt Discovered in Saturn's Outermost Ring

For the first time, scientists working on NASA’s Cassini mission have detected sodium salts in ice grains of Saturn’s outermost ring. Detecting salty ice indicates that Saturn’s moon Enceladus, which primarily replenishes the ring with material from discharging jets, could harbor a reservoir of liquid water — perhaps an ocean — beneath its surface.

Cassini discovered the water-ice jets in 2005 on Enceladus. These jets expel tiny ice grains and vapor, some of which escape the moon’s gravity and form Saturn’s outermost ring. Cassini’s cosmic dust analyzer has examined the composition of those grains and found salt within...

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Source: [NASA Press Release]

June 24, 2009 / Posted by: Daniella Scalice