The rocket lifts off on a blast of bright white and yellow to the left of frame. Smoke pours over the ground. A water tower and a few other structures are visible to the right amidst the smoke. The scene appears against a deep blue sky.The sun sets in the center of the frame over the sea. A large research vessel is in the foreground to the right, almost in silhouette. Land can be seen on the distant horizon to the left.Astrobiology is the study of life's origins and the potential for life in the Universe.A closeup of a section of the cover image for Issue 9. This image is cropped to show a series of planets into the distance that represent disciplines of astrobiology (Geology, Oceanography, Microbiology, Chemistry, Biology and Atmospheric Science, etc.)
Europa Clipper Begins Journey to Jupiter’s Icy MoonLift off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Monday, Oct. 14, 202401/04
The Making of Our Alien EarthThe Undersea Volcanoes of Santorini, Greece02/04
Request for Information (RFI): Development of NASA-DARES 2025: The NASA Decadal Astrobiology Research and Exploration StrategyResponse Date: February 4, 202503/04
Astrobiology, Issue #9: Becoming an AstrobiologistA new issue of the Astrobiology Graphic History is now available!04/04
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The NASA insignia is one of the agency's best-known symbols.
New Team to Assess NASA’s Mars Sample Return Architecture Proposals (NASA)Oct. 17, 2024
The Falcon Heavy sits in the middle of frame at a distance, clouds of smoke surround the base as the liftoff sequence beings. Behind the launch site, the Atlantic stretches to the horizon under a cloudless sky.
NASA’s Europa Clipper Sails Toward Ocean Moon of Jupiter (NASA)Oct. 14, 2024
The NASA insignia is one of the agency's best-known symbols.
Planetary Science Research Programs Town HallOct. 11, 2024
WASP-49 b appears to the left in the foreground as a dark red, cloudy sphere. To the right is a large, bright star. Between them is a small, glowing moon with puffs of smoke around it.
Does Distant Planet Host Volcanic Moon Like Jupiter’s Io? (NASA)Oct. 10, 2024
Astrobiology is the study of life's origins and the potential for life in the Universe.
Request for Information (RFI): Development of NASA-DARES 2025: The NASA Decadal Astrobiology Research and Exploration StrategyOct. 8, 2024
Mars in center frame. The left half of the planet appears as Mars today, with a dry and reddish surface. The right side of the planet is covered in a blue ocean of water. Clouds wrap around the planet.
NASA: New Insights into How Mars Became Uninhabitable (NASA)Oct. 8, 2024
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Illustration of the Perseverance rover arriving on Mars.
NASA MISSIONSMars 2020

NASA's Mars 2020 mission is the next step in NASA's long-term robotic exploration of Mars. The rover Perseverance will provide important data relevant to astrobiology research, along with a vast amount of geological information about the landing site and the planet at large that will help put the astrobiological data into context.

Perseverance will not be looking for organisms living on Mars today. However, the rover will collect data that could be used to identify biosignatures of ancient microbial life.

What really sets this mission apart is that Perseverance will be collecting a suite of samples to be returned to Earth via a Mars Sample Return mission. The opportunity to bring back samples from another planet will allow our researchers to interrogate them with all of the sophistication and thoroughness that Earth-based instrumentation provides.

Learn more