NASA Astrobiology Institute (NAI)

Virtual Planetary Laboratory (JPL/CalTech)

Executive Summary

Untitled

Project Reports

A 1-D Climate Model for Extrasolar Terrestrial Planets

Characterization of Terrestrial Planets From Disk-Averaged Spectra: Earths Around Other Stars

Characterization of Terrestrial Planets From Disk-Averaged Spectra: Spatially and Spectrally Resolved Planetary Models

Database of Molecular Spectroscopy to Support Extrasolar Planet Modeling

Database of Stellar Spectra to Support Extrasolar Planet Modeling

Exploring Conditions for Habitability in our Solar System

Extrasolar Planet Detection and Characterization

Model Synthesis and Architecture

Modeling Terrestrial Planet Formation and Composition

Searching for Life on Mars: Interpretation of Remote-sensing Observations of Methane

The Abiotic Planetary Model: The Upper and Lower Boundary Condition on the Atmosphere

The Astrophysical Environment and Planetary and Lunar Habitability

The Generalized Terrestrial Planet Photochemical Model

The Virtual Planetary Laboratory - The Life Modules

Understanding the Earth's Early Environment

EPO Reports

Project Reports

Organized by Astrobiology Roadmap Objective

Goal 1: Understand the nature and distribution of habitable environments in the Universe

• Objective 1: Determine whether the atmosphere of the early Earth, hydrothermal or exogenous matter were significant sources of organic matter. (14 reports)

Goal 2: Explore for past or present habitable environments, prebiotic chemistry and signs of life elsewhere in our Solar System

• Objective 2: Develop and test plausible pathways by which ancient counterparts of membrane systems, proteins and nucleic acid were synthesized from simpler precursors and assembled into protocells. (4 reports)

Goal 3: Understand how life originates from cosmic and planetary precursors

• Objective 3: Replicating, catalytic systems capable of evolution, and construct laboratory models of metabolism in primitive living systems. (1 reports)

Goal 4: Understand how past life on Earth interacted with its changing planetary and Solar System environment

• Objective 4: Expand and interpret the genomic database of a select group of key microorganisms in order to reveal the history and dynamics of evolution. (10 reports)

Goal 5: Understand the evolutionary mechanisms and environmental limits of life

• Objective 5: Describe the sequences of causes and effects associated with the development of Earth's early biosphere and the global environment. (1 reports)

Goal 6: Understand the principles that will shape the future of life, both on Earth and beyond

• Objective 6: Define how ecophysiological processes structure microbial communities, influence their adaptation and evolution, and affect their detection on other planets. (6 reports)

Goal 7: Determine how to recognize signatures of life on other worlds and on early Earth

• Objective 7: Identify the environmental limits for by examining biological adaptations to extremes in environmental conditions. (14 reports)