Section

Astrobiology in Missions

The NASA Astrobiology Program’s research portfolio spans multiple scientific disciplines and crosses divisional boundaries, serving as a unifying theme for numerous investigations of both flight missions and research programs. Individual investigations address one or more of astrobiology’s big questions: How did life originate and evolve? Are we alone? and What is the future of life beyond Earth? These investigations are organized around six intersecting themes derived from the Program’s emerging strategic plan.

Big Questions of Astrobiology

Mission/R&A ProgramHow did life originate and evolve?Are we Alone?What is the future of life beyond Earth?
Cross-Divisional
NExSSNASA Earth Science Division global climate models are applied to other rocky planets in the Solar System in order to broaden our understanding of planetary habitability, which informs the possibility of water and life on diverse planets orbiting other stars (exoplanets). (1, 2, 4, 5, 6)
Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) Identify complex molecules in space that could be relevant to the origin of life and the habitability of our solar system (1, 6) Study star birth and death, and the formation of exoplanetary systems (4) Study planets, comets, and asteroids in our solar system, providing data for comparative planetology and understanding life's potential in the Solar System and beyond (5)
Heliophysics
Living with a StarLWS explores how the history of the Sun relates to the evolution of habitability and life on Earth. It also investigates the planetary implications of stellar activities, and the history and dynamics of types of stars other than our Sun and their influence on exoplanetary evolution and potential habitability. (2, 3, 4, 5)
Astrophysics Division Missions
Keplersearch for Earth-sized planets in the habitable zone of their host star (5)
TESSsearch for exoplanets transiting nearby bright stars; focused on Earth- and SuperEarth-sized planets (5)
James Webb Space Telescope (JWST)formation and evolution of distant solar systems capable of supporting life on Earth-like exoplanets (4, 5)comparative planetology for understanding life's potential in the Solar System (5)
Wide Field InfraRed Survey Telescope (WFIRST)study extreme star forming galaxies and quasars, and trace the earliest enrichment of the intergalactic medium with heavy elements (4)complete a census of exoplanets to help answer new questions about the potential for life in the Universe (5)comparative planetology for understanding life's potential in the Solar System (5)
NASA’s Great Observatories (Hubble, Spitzer, CGRO and Chandra)formation and distribution of elements and molecules relevant to the origin of life (1, 6)study stellar nurseries, the centers of galaxies, and exoplanetary systems (4)comparative planetology for understanding life's potential in the Solar System (5)
Planetary Science Division Missions
Cassini-Huygensstudy of potential habitability of moons of giant planets in the Solar System (5)study of Titan relevant to comparative planetology (1, 4, 6)
Dawnstudy of materials from the early Solar System that could have been used in the formation of planets and the origin of life (1, 6)
O/OREOSevolutionary mechanisms of life in extreme environments (2)
Europa Clipperdetailed reconnaissance of Jupiter’s moon Europa and study of potential habitability (5)
Mars Exploration Program: MER, Phoenix, MRO, MSL, 2020MER laid the groundwork for MSL to investigate Mars’ habitability, studying its climate and geology. 2020 will explore a potentially habitable site, seek signs of past life, fill a returnable cache with compelling samples, and demonstrate technology needed for the future human and robotic exploration of Mars (4, 5, 6)
MAVENinsights into the history of Mars’ atmosphere, climate, liquid water, and planetary habitability (4, 5)
LADEEcompared the lunar atmosphere to similar processes elsewhere in the Solar System, including moons of outer planets which may have been or currently are habitable (5)
LCROSSdiscovered water in permanently shadowed craters, and that the Moon is chemically active a nd has an active water cycle in lunar shadows (1, 4)
Voyager Interstellar Mission (VIM)data from primitive icy worlds at the edge of our solar system address the chemical endowment of all the planets including Earth (1, 4, 6)the Voyagers provided groundbreaking data on planets in our solar system and the potential habitability of their moons (4, 5)study the outer edge of the Solar System providing data relevant to comparative planetology and the potential habitability of other solar systems. (5)
Stardustcollect samples of a comet and return them to Earth for laboratory analysis of materials that could have been used in the formation of planets and the origin of life (1, 6)
Deep ImpactImpact a comet to study the interior and gather data concerning the role of comets in the formation of planets and the origin of life (1, 6)
Deep Impact Extended Investigation (DIXI); Extrasolar Planet Observation and Characterization (EPOCh); (EPOXI) flyby of a comet to gather data concerning their role in the formation of planets and the origin of life (1, 6) Identify and study extrasolar planets (5)
Messengerstudy our solar system’s smallest terrestrial planet and collect data relevant to comparative planetology studies for understanding life's potential in the Solar System and beyond (5)
Intelligent Payload Experiment (IPEX)study the Earth and the processes involved in making the planet habitable for life (4) collect data relevant to comparative planetology studies for understanding life's potential in the Solar System and beyond (5)
InSight Mars landerunderstanding the processes that shaped the rocky planets of the inner Solar System including Earth (4)
OSIRIS-RExcollect samples relevant to our Solar System's formation and origins of life (4)
New Horizonsdata from primitive icy worlds at the edge of our Solar System address the chemical endowment of all the planets including Earth (1, 4, 6)
Junoformation of giant planets and their role in planetary system formation and habitability (4, 5)study conditions of the Jupiter system relevant to the habitability of Jupiter's moons (4, 5)
Themes from the Astrobiology Strategic Plan:

1 - Abiotic Sources of Organics,
2 - Co-Evolution of Life and the Physical Environment,
3 - Early Life and Increasing Complexity,
4 - Constructing Habitable Worlds,
5 - Habitable Environments,
6 - Macromolecules and the Origin of Life