How Does Life Begin and Develop?
Objective
1
Sources of 0rganics on Earth
Objective
2
Origin of Life's Cellular Components
Objective
4
Genomic Clues to Evolution
Objective
5
Linking Planetary and Biological Evolution
Does Life Exist Elsewhere in the Universe?
Objective
7
The Extremes of Life
Objective
8
Past and Present Life on Mars
Objective
9
Life's Precursors and Habitats in the Outer Solar System
Objective
10
Natural Migration of Life
Objective
11
Origin of Habitable Planets
Objective
12
Effects of Climate and Geology on Habitability
Objective
13
Extrasolar Biomarkers
What is Life's Future on Earth
and Beyond?
Objective
14
Ecosystem Response to Rapid Environmental Change
Objective
15
Earth's Future Habitability
Objective
16
Bringing Life with Us beyond Earth
Objective
17
Planetary Protection
Question:
What is Life's Future on Earth and Beyond?
Planetary
Protection
Objective 17: Refine planetary protection guidelines and develop protection technology for human and robotic missions.
Within the coming decade, significant advances in astrobiology are likely to come from from many sources -- remote sensing, in situ experiments, sample return missions, and Earth based research. We can anticipate that this new information about physical, chemical and geological environments on planets, planetary satellites, and other Solar System bodies will provide important details related to the origin, evolution, nature, and evolutionary potential for living entities on Earth and elsewhere. During this period of intense exploration and research, there will be a continuing need to apply planetary protection principles to avoid scientifically and biospherically harmful cross contamination of the planets and celestial bodies. Such planetary protection controls must meet NASA and COSPAR policies, satisfy technical and scientific concerns, and reassure the public that appropriate safeguards will be taken at every step of exploration.
Implementation
Near- to mid-term:
- Conduct an international conference
to discuss the ethical issues associated with planetary protection.
- Assess the risk and potential
impact of importation of alien life to a planet.
- Develop the knowledge base
and recommendations for implementation plans and policies for human
exploration.
- Review and recommend refinements
to planetary protection policies and guidelines for robotic solar system
exploration that incorporate the latest scientific information and technological
advances.
- Enlist the aid of a broad
contingent of international experts to explore ethical and theological
questions related to the existence of extraterrestrial life, the potential
for harmful cross contamination, and the implications of long-term,
large-scale space and planetary exploration, habitation and engineering.
- Develop methodologies, taking advantage of the latest technologies, to aid in the implementation of planetary protection for robotic missions. These will include containment and isolation on Earth, life detection, cleaning and sterilization.
Future extensions:
- Understand the risk for cross-contamination
of life throughout the solar system.
- Develop new or refined technologies
necessary to avoid harmful cross contamination during human exploration.
- Develop and deploy new technologies to sense life and its diversity, to guide our exploration of the universe.