The NASA astrobiology roadmap

David J. Des Marais, Louis J. Allamandola, Steven A. Benner, Alan P. Boss, David Deamer, Paul G. Falkowski, Jack Farmer, S. Blair Hedges, Bruce M. Jakosky, Andrew H. Knoll, David R. Liskowsky, Victoria S. Meadows, Michael A. Meyer, Carl B. Pilcher, Kenneth H. Nealson, Alfred M. Spormann, Jonathan D. Trent, William W. Turner, Neville J. Woolf, Harold W. Yorke

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

74 Scopus citations

Abstract

The NASA Astrobiology Roadmap provides guidance for research and technology development across the NASA enterprises that encompass the space, Earth, and biological sciences. The ongoing development of astrobiology roadmaps embodies the contributions of diverse scientists and technologists from government, universities, and private institutions. The Roadmap addresses three basic questions: How does life begin and evolve, does life exist elsewhere in the universe, and what is the future of life on Earth and beyond? Seven Science Goals outline the following key domains of investigation: understanding the nature and distribution of habitable environments in the universe, exploring for habitable environments and life in our own solar system, understanding the emergence of life, determining how early life on Earth interacted and evolved with its changing environment, understanding the evolutionary mechanisms and environmental limits of life, determining the principles that will shape life in the future, and recognizing signatures of life on other worlds and on early Earth. For each of these goals, Science Objectives outline more specific high-priority efforts for the next 3-5 years. These 18 objectives are being integrated with NASA strategic planning.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)219-235
Number of pages17
JournalAstrobiology
Volume3
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 1 2003

Keywords

  • Astrobiology
  • Exobiology
  • NASA
  • Policy
  • Roadmap

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Agricultural and Biological Sciences (miscellaneous)
  • Space and Planetary Science

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The NASA astrobiology roadmap'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this