Astrobiology and Missions at NASA

Abstract

In his News Focus article “Astrobiology fights for its life” (19 Jan., p. [318][1]), A. Lawler describes NASA's astrobiology program as largely disconnected from its space-flight missions. But recent competitions paint a different picture. For example, Bruce Jakosky, the Principal Investigator (PI) of the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution mission (MAVEN), one of two candidates for the next Mars Scout, is also the PI of the NASA Astrobiology Institute's (NAI) University of Colorado team. MAVEN would study atmospheric gas escape from Mars to understand what effect atmospheric evolution has had on the planet's climate and habitability, placing that one piece of the puzzle into the larger context of the planet's biological potential. The NAI stimulates this kind of integrative thinking by bringing together broad, multidisciplinary groups of scientists who might not otherwise have the opportunity to work together and learn how to contribute to each other's research. MAVEN is an example of what can grow from this fertile ground. The Mars Scout selections included two instrument development efforts for ESA's ExoMars mission, both of which are direct products of the NASA Astrobiology program. In addition, two PI instruments on the 2009 Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) received Astrobiology support to enable their selection for flight. NAI current and former PIs and Co-Investigators are centrally involved in operations and science analysis for the Mars Exploration Rovers, Spirit and Opportunity. The NAI also contributes to future missions through Focus Groups that mobilize expertise from across the Institute and the wider scientific community. The Mars Focus Group began by playing a seminal role in restructuring the Mars Program after the loss of NASA missions launched in 1998. It accomplished this by organizing astrobiology community input to NASA's Mars Exploration Program Analysis Group (MEPAG). Two NAI PIs have served as MEPAG Chair. The NAI Europa and Titan Focus Groups have also provided input to mission planners studying those opportunities, and the Astronomy Focus Group has provided an analysis of the astrobiology potential of the James Webb Space Telescope. Rather than being disconnected from NASA flight opportunities, astrobiology objectives and the astrobiology community are repeatedly found at the heart of NASA's missions. [1]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.315.5810.318