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| Organizational Overview
Scientists in the Exobiology Branch of the Space Science & Astrobiology Division perform pioneering research in astrochemistry, the cosmic evolution of biogenic elements and molecules, planetary pre-biotic chemistry, geology, the early organization and evolution of life, the evolution of complex organisms, and ecological studies. The branch provides expertise in mineralogical characterizations, life detection, microbial ecology, analog environments, and planetary protection.
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Capabilities
The Exobiology Branch provides interdisciplinary expertise in the life sciences, chemistry, physics, astronomy, and geology. Exobiology Branch scientists contribute to Agency missions directly through their proposals and by providing science requirements definition, project management, field testing of instrument prototypes in analog environments, verification testing and review, and contractor oversight. The Branch also contributes in the development of research announcements.
Members serve on peer review panels, and Branch scientists assist in formulating
agency objectives and roadmaps.
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| Projects
The NASA Center for Astrobioinformatics, provides information technology and data mining for Astrobiology missions and research. Development of CheMin, an instrument that will provide definitive mineralogical
assessments on the Mars Science Laboratory (the 2009 Mars rover) and the
associated sample handling and preparation system.
CheMin field testing in Death Valley
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A Miniature Gas Chromatograph-Ion Mobility Spectrometer is being developed
for potential biomarker detection (extant and fossilized).
Microbial Assay Technologies for Space (MATS) to assay the response of microbial ecological communities to planetary and spaceflight conditions.
Fig. 2. Detailed close up of a culture chamber with liquid medium inlet and outlet ports and four micro-sensor and sample analysis ports. |
| Facilities
The Branch is housed in Building 239 at NASA Ames Research Center. Laboratory facilities available include analytical equipment for the characterization of gas and aqueous chemistry, instruments for the detection of various biomarkers including sugars and organics, microbiology facilities including the culture of microbial mat communities, electron and RAMAN microscopes, a molecular biology suite, and informatics computational capabilities. Point of Contact:
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NASA Ames Research Center • 2006 |