Astrobiology is the study of life's origins and the potential for life in the Universe.A comic book style illustration shows Clipper swooping down from the top right toward Europa. An image of Jupiter from the Juno mission is in the background. Europa is hand drawn and a cutaway at the surface shows the ocean underneath.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.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.)
Request for Information (RFI): Development of NASA-DARES 2025: The NASA Decadal Astrobiology Research and Exploration StrategyResponse Date: February 4, 202501/04
New Edition of Astrobiology Issue #4 – Missions to the Outer Solar SystemUpdated edition includes NASA’s Europa Clipper mission02/04
Europa Clipper Begins Journey to Jupiter’s Icy MoonLift off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Monday, Oct. 14, 202403/04
Astrobiology, Issue #9: Becoming an AstrobiologistA new issue of the Astrobiology Graphic History is now available!04/04
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Arriving at Uranus in 1986, Voyager 2 observed a bluish orb with extremely subtle features. A haze layer hid most of the planet's cloud features from view.
Mining Old Data From NASA’s Voyager 2 Solves Several Uranus Mysteries (NASA)Nov. 12, 2024
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NASA-Funded Study Examines Tidal Effects on Planet and Moon InteriorsNov. 7, 2024
The Space Between: This artist's concept shows the Voyager 1 spacecraft entering the space between stars. Interstellar space is dominated by plasma, ionized gas (illustrated here as brownish haze), that was thrown off by giant stars millions of years ago.
Still Kickin’ Since the ’70s: NASA’s Voyager Mission Keeps Exploring (NASA)Nov. 5, 2024
Illustration of the Parker Solar Probe, which will come close enough to the sun to touch its outer corona.
Final Venus Flyby for NASA’s Parker Solar Probe Queues Closest Sun Pass (NASA)Nov. 5, 2024
A comic book style illustration shows Clipper swooping down from the top right toward Europa. An image of Jupiter from the Juno mission is in the background. Europa is hand drawn and a cutaway at the surface shows the ocean underneath.
NASA’s New Edition of Graphic Novel Features Europa ClipperNov. 1, 2024
Artist's impression of NASA's James Webb Space Telescope.
NASA’s Hubble, Webb Probe Surprisingly Smooth Disk Around Vega (NASA)Nov. 1, 2024
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December 062024
Pre-Proposal Conference for Graduate Students applying for FINESST
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December 09–142024
American Geophysical Union 2024 (AGU24)
Washington, D.C., US
February 25–282025
Outer Planets Assessment Group (OPAG) Spring Meeting
Tucson, AZ/Virtual, US
July 14–182025
Progress in Understanding the Pluto System: 10 Years after Flyby
Laurel, MD, US
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January 172025
Heliophysics Citizen Science Investigations (NASA)
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January 282025
Integrated Water Field Campaign (NASA)
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January 312025
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January 312025
NASA Astrophysics Research and Analysis
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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