NASA Astrobiology Institute (NAI)

1. Prebiotic Organics from Space

   Project Investigators: Louis Allamandola, Max Bernstein, Andrew Mattioda, Scott Sandford

   Other Project Members

   Charles Apel (Collaborator)

   Charles Bauschlicher (Collaborator)

   Nathan Bramall (Collaborator)

   Jamie Cook (Collaborator)

   David Deamer (Collaborator)

   Jason Dworkin (Collaborator)

   Murthy Gudipati (Collaborator)

   Richard Zare (Collaborator)

   Summary

   This project has three components, all aimed to better our understanding of the connection between chemistry in space and the origin of life on Earth and possibly other worlds. Our approach is to trace the formation and evolution of compounds in space, with particular emphasis on identifying those that are interesting from a prebiotic perspective, and understand their possible roles in the origin of life on habitable worlds. We do this by first measuring the spectra and chemistry of materials under simulated space conditions in the laboratory. We then use these results to interpret astronomical observations made with ground-based and orbiting telescopes. We also carry out experiments on simulated extraterrestrial materials to analyze extraterrestrial samples returned by NASA missions or that fall to Earth in as meteorites.

   Astrobiology Roadmap Objectives:

   • Objective 1.1: Models of formation and evolution of habitable planets
   • Objective 2.1: Mars exploration
   • Objective 2.2: Outer Solar System exploration
   • Objective 3.1: Sources of prebiotic materials and catalysts
   • Objective 3.4: Origins of cellularity and protobiological systems
   • Objective 4.3: Effects of extraterrestrial events upon the biosphere
   • Objective 7.1: Biosignatures to be sought in Solar System materials
   • Objective 7.2: Biosignatures to be sought in nearby planetary systems

   Project Progress

   We have made substantial progress in all three focus areas this year.

   (1) Conversion of our world unique collection of PAH mid-IR spectra (>800) into a database is nearly complete. This is the spectral collection upon which the interstellar PAH model is based. Database/web user interface should be ready for launch March, 2009 and will revolutionize how cosmic spectra are analyzed. Three PAH related papers were published, one on NIR spectra of N-containing PAHs; one on mid-IR spectroscopy of very large PAHs; and one on IR properties of PAH ions in water ice analogs of interstellar and Solar System ices.

   (2) Several papers describing reactions during the production of prebiotic compounds by UV irradiation of cosmic ices appeared in MAPS and ApJ. One described isotopic experiments showing that the production of amino acids in astrophysical ices is complex and does not follow the pathways predicted by Strecker synthesis or radical interaction models. A review of prebiotic chemical evolution was published as part of the American Chemical Society’s series on Chemical Education.

   (3) Mission involvement: Scott Sandford, CoI on Stardust and member of the sample allocation subcommittee, is intimately involved with extraction, distribution, and analysis of samples from Comet 81P/Wild 2. Results were published in the January/February 2008 issue of MAPS. Cometary organics are richer in oxygen and nitrogen than meteoritic organics and also contain volatile materials not observed in meteorites. Some organics are enriched in D and ¹⁵N, implying an interstellar/presolar chemical heritage. This work was recently reviewed in the first volume of AnnRev Analytical Chemistry.

   The concept of a lander/rover deployable Organic Surveyor based on UV induced Luminescence has been finalized, the necessary equipment to start this has been purchased with our 2007 NAI DDF funds and the experimental apparatus is under construction. We have also just been awarded a second Astrobiology DDF grant (PI Ehrenfreund).

   Mission Involvement

   Stardust

   Team member (Sandford) CoI on Stardust mission. Intimate involvement with sample extraction, distribution, and analysis. Team leader of the Organics Preliminary Examination Team. Member of Stardust sample allocation subcommittee of CAPTEM (Curation and Analysis Planning Team for Extraterrestrial Materials).

   Spitzer Space Telescope

   We have been awarded nearly ten Spitzer proposals since this mission launched. We have been successful because of our unique collection of realistic spectra of simulated extraterrestrial materials and our ability to carry out laboratory simulations of materials under space conditions. PAH spectral collection used to create computer models used by Spitzer legacy Programs. Model developed by Draine (U. Princeton) rests on PAH properties we provided. We also provide data to analyze spectra.

   ABE / ASPIRE

   Group members Sandford and Allamandola are PI and CoIs, respectively, on these two mission concepts. Our IR expertise and our data for ice and PAH provide the foundation for these proposals.

   Comet Coma Rendezvous Sample Return Mission (CCRSR)

   Group members Sandford and Allamandola are PI and CoI, respectively, on a concept study of this mission, which would use NASA's new ASRG power unit to rendezvous with a comet, collect material from its coma, and return this material to Earth for analysis.

   Cross-Team Collaborations

   We collaborate closely with The Goddard Astrobiology team. Drs. Jason Dworkin and Jamie Elsila are members of that team and we exchange samples for analysis and study, as well as join together to put the results in the proper astrobiological context. Joint pulications have resulted from this collaboration. Drs. Dworkin and Elsila were former co-investigators on the Ames Astrobiology Team. We are also members of the successful NAI DDF Grant (Glavin PI), by measuring the IR spectra of samples sent us from Goddard.

Publications

Allamandola, L.J.  (2008).  Chemical Evolution in the Interstellar Medium: Feedstock of Solar Systems.  In: L. Zaikowski & J.M. Friedrich (Eds.).  Chemical Evolution across Space and Time - From the Big Bang to Prebiotic Chemistry (pp. 80-110).  American Chemical Society.

Allamandola, L.J., Bauschlicher Jr, C.W., Cami, J., Hudgins, D.M., Mattioda, A.L., Peeters, E. & Ricca, A.  (2008).  The NASA Ames PAH IR Spectroscopic Database.  (Abstract).  Spitzer Science Conference, Pasadena, CA, December 2007.

Ashbourn, S.F.M., Elsila, J., Dworkin, J.P., Bernstein, M.P., Sandford, S.A. & Allamandola, L.J.  (2007).  Ultraviolet Photolysis of Anthracene in H2O Interstellar Ice Analogs: Potential Connection to Meteoritic Organics.  Meteoritics and Planetary Science, 42:2035-2041.

Bauschlicher Jr, C.W., Peeters, E. & Allamandola, L.J.  (2008).  The Infrared Spectra of Very Large, Compact, Highly Symmetric, Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs).  Astrophys. J., 678:316-327.

Bernstein, M., Sandford, S., Mattioda, A. & Allamandola, L.  (2007).  Near and Mid IR Spectra of PAHs and Their Cations in H2O Ice.  (abstract).  NAI Icy Worlds Focus Group, NASA/Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA, 17-21 Sept 2007.

Bernstein, M.P., Sandford, S.A., Mattioda, A.L. & Allamandola, L.J.  (2007).  Near- and Mid-Infrared Laboratory Spectra of PAH Cations in Solid H2O.  Astrophys. J., 664:1264-1272.

Cody, G.D., Ade, H., Alexander, C.M., Araki, T., Butterworth, A., Fleckenstein, H., Flynn, G., Gilles, M.K., Jacobsen, C., Kilcoyne, A.L.D., Messenger, K., Sandford, S.A., Tyliszczak, T., Westphal, A.J., Wirick, S. & Yabuta, H.  (2008).  Quantitative Organic and Light-Element Analysis of Comet 81P/Wild 2 Particles using C-, N-, and O- µ-XANES.  Meteoritics and Planetary Science, 43:353-365.

Elsila, J.E., Dworkin, J.P., Bernstein, M.P., Martin, M.P. & Sandford, S.A.  (2008).  Mechanisms of Amino Acid Formation in Interstellar Ice Analogs.  (abstract 16-11-O).  Astrobiology Science Conference 2008, Santa Clara, CA, 15-17 April 2008.  Astrobiology, 8:364.

Ennico, K. & Sandford, S.A.  (2007).  The AstroBiology Explorer Mission Concepts (ABE/ASPIRE).  Adv. Spa. Sci., 40:649-654.

Glavin, D., Brinckerhoff, W., Dworkin, J., Eigenbrode, J., Franz, H., Mahaffy, P., Stern, J., Allamandola, L., Blake, D., Sandford, S., Amashukeli, X., Fisher, A., Grunthaner, F., Fries, M., Steele, A., Aubrey, A., Bada, J., Giselle, T., Mathies, R., Bish, D., Chipera, S. & Corrigan, C.  (2008).  Astrobiology Sample Analysis Program (ASAP) for Advanced Life Detection Instrumentation Development and Calibration.  (abstract). Astrobiology Science Conference 2008, Santa Clara, CA, 15-17 April 2008.  Astrobiology, 8:297.

Glavin, D.P., Dworkin, J.P. & Sandford, S.A.  (2007).  A Search for Cometary Amines in Samples Returned by Stardust.  (abstract).  Bioastronomy 2007 Meeting, San Juan, Puerto Rico, 15-20 July 2007.  Astrobiology, 7:500.

Glavin, D.P., Dworkin, J.P. & Sandford, S.A.  (2008).  Detection of Cometary Amines in Samples Returned by Stardust.  Meteoritics and Planetary Science, 43:399-413.

Leitner, J., Stephan, T., Kearsley, A.T., Hörz, F., Flynn, G.J. & Sandford, S.A.  (2008).  TOF-SIMS Analysis of Crater Residues from Wild 2 Cometary Particles on Stardust Aluminum Foil.  Meteoritics and Planetary Science, 43:161-185.

Matrajt, G., Ito, M., Wirick, S., Brownlee, D., Joswiak, D., Flynn, G. & Sandford, S.  (2007).  Carbon Investigation of Stardust Particles: A TEM, NanoSIMS, and XANES Study.  (abstract).  Bioastronomy 2007 Meeting, San Juan, Puerto Rico, 15-20 July 2007.  Astrobiology, 7:537-538.

Matrajt, G., Ito, M., Wirick, S., Messenger, S., Brownlee, D.E., Joswiak, D., Flynn, G., Sandford, S., Snead, C. & Westphal, A.  (2008).  Carbon Investigation of Two Stardust Particles: A TEM, NanoSIMS, and XANES Study.  Meteoritics and Planetary Science, 43:315-334.

Mattioda, A.L.  (2008).  Site Characterization and Analysis Penetrometer Systems: A Terrestrial View.  (Abstract).  Deep Mars Workshop, NASA Ames, Moffett Field, CA, March 2008.

Mattioda, A.L., Allamandola, L.J., Bauschlicher Jr, C.W., Hudgins, D.M., Ricca, A. & Cami, J.  (2008).  The NASA Ames Infrared Spectroscopic Database of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons.  (Abstract).  Astrobiology Science Conference 2008, Santa Clara, CA, 15-17 April 2008.  Astrobiology, 8.

Mattioda, A.L., Rutter, L., Parkhill, J., Head-Gordon, M., Lee, T.J. & Allamandola, L.J.  (2008).  Near Infrared Spectroscopy of Nitrogenated Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Cations from 0.7 to 2.5 microns (abstract).  Astrobiology Science Conference 2008, Santa Clara, CA, 15-17 April 2008.  Astrobiology, 8.

Mattioda, A.L., Rutter, L., Parkhill, J., Head-Gordon, M., Lee, T.J. & Allamandola, L.J.  (2008).  Near Infrared Spectroscopy of Nitrogenated Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Cations from 0.7 to 2.5 microns.  Astrophys. J., 680:1243.

Mattioda, A.L., Tucker, J., Ricca, A., Bauschlicher Jr, C.W., Ricca, A. & Allamandola, L.J.  (2008).  The First Far-Infrared Spectra of Matrix-Isolated Large PAHs.  (Abstract).  Spitzer Science Conference, Pasadena, CA, December 2007.

Nuevo, M. & Sandford, S.A.  (2008).  Photochemistry of interstellar/protostellar ices as a contributor to the chemical and chiral distribution of meteoritic amino acids. (abstract).  IAU Symposium N. 251, "Organic Matter in Space", University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China, February 18-22, 2008.

Nuevo, M., Milam, S.N., Sandford, S.A. & Elsila, J.E.  (2008).  Formation and Photo-Stability of Pyrimidine-Based Compounds from the UV Irradiation of Pyrimidine in Ices of Astrophysical Interest.  (abstract).  Asia Oceania Geosciences Society (AOGS) Meeting, Busan, Korea, 16-20 June 2008.

Rotundi, A., Baratta, G.A., Borg, J., Brucato, J.R., Busemann, H., Colangeli, L., D'Hendecourt, L., Djouadi, Z., Ferrini, G., Franchi, I.A., Fries, M., Grossemy, F., Keller, L.P., Mennella, V., Nakamura, K., Nittler, L.R., Palumbo, M.E., Sandford, S.A., Steele, A. & Wopenka, B.  (2007).  Combined Micro-IR and Micro-Raman Analyses of Comet 81P/Wild 2 Particles Collected by Stardust.  (abstract). 70th Meteoritical Society Meeting, Tucson, AZ, 13-17August 2007.  Meteoritics and Planetary Science, 42:A133.

Rotundi, A., Baratta, G.A., Borg, J., Brucato, J.R., Busemann, H., Colangeli, L., d'Hendecourt, L., Djouadi, Z., Ferrini, G., Franchi, I.A., Fries, M., Grossemy, F., Keller, L.P., Mennella, V., Nakamura, K., Nittler, L.R., Palumbo, M.E., Sandford, S.A., Steele, A. & Wopenka, B.  (2008).  Combined Micro-Raman, Micro-Infrared, and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope Analyses of Comet 81P/Wild 2 Particles Collected by Stardust.  Meteoritics and Planetary Science, 43:367-397.

Sandford, S.A.  (2007).  "Fixing" Interstellar and Protostellar D and 15N Enrichments into Meteoritic Materials.  (abstract).  70th Meteoritical Society Meeting, Tucson, AZ, 13-17August 2007.  Meteoritics and Planetary Science, 42:A135.

Sandford, S.A.  (2007).  Organics in the Samples Returned by the Stardust Spacecraft from Comet 81P/Wild 2.  (abstract).  Bioastronomy 2007 Meeting, San Juan, Puerto Rico, 15-20 July 2007.  Astrobiology, 7:493-494.

Sandford, S.A.  (2007).  Samples Returned from Comet 81P/Wild 2 by the Stardust Spacecraft: Insights into the Nature of Extended Sources of CN in Cometary Comae. (abstract).  39th DPS Meeting, Orlando, Florida, 7-12 October 2007.

Sandford, S.A.  (2008).  Organics in the Samples Returned from Comet 81P/Wild 2 by the Stardust Spacecraft.  (abstract for invited review).  IAU Symposium N. 251, "Organic Matter in Space", University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China, February 18-22, 2008.

Sandford, S.A.  (2008).  Overview of the Results of the Organics Preliminary Examination of Stardust Samples.  (abstract 32-07-O).  Astrobiology Science Conference 2008, Santa Clara, CA, 15-17 April 2008.  Astrobiology, 8:446.

Sandford, S.A.  (2008).  Terrestrial Analysis of the Organic Component of Comet Dust.  Ann. Rev. Anal. Chem., 1:549-578.

Sandford, S.A., Messenger, S., DiSanti, M., Keller, L. & Altwegg, K.  (2008).  Oxygen in Comets and Interplanetary Dust Particles..  In: G.J. MacPherson, D.W. Middlefeldt & J.H. Jones (Eds.).  Oxygen in the Solar System (pp. 247-272).  Chantilly, VA: Mineralogical Society of America & Geochemical Society.

Stephan, T., Flynn, G.J., Sandford, S.A. & Zolensky, M.E.  (2008).  TOF-SIMS Analysis of Cometary Particles Extracted from Stardust Aerogel.  Meteoritics and Planetary Science, 43:285-298.

Stephan, T., Rost, D., Vicenzi, E.P., Bullock, E.S., MacPherson, G.J., Westphal, A.J., Snead, C.J., Flynn, G.J., Sandford, S.A. & Zolensky, M.E.  (2008).  TOF-SIMS Analysis of Cometary Matter in Stardust Aerogel Tracks.  Meteoritics and Planetary Science, 43:233-246.