NASA Astrobiology Roadmap 2008

The NASA Astrobiology Roadmap is updated periodically as part of the space agency’s strategic planning process. Accordingly, Dr. J. D. Rummel, Senior Scientist for Astrobiology in the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters, directed that the 2003 version of the Astrobiology Roadmap should be revised and updated during 2007-2008.

The ongoing development of the roadmap embodies the contributions of diverse scientists and technologists, including NASA employees, academic scientists whose research is partially funded by NASA grants, and many members of the broader community who have no formal association with NASA. The members of the roadmap revision team are as follows: D. J. Des Marais (co-lead), J. A. Nuth III (co-lead), L. J. Allamandola, A. P. Boss, J. D. Farmer, T. M. Hoehler, B. M. Jakosky, V. S. Meadows, A. Pohorille, B. Runnegar and A. M. Spormann.

The team’s updated draft was recently reviewed by the Executive Council of the NASA Astrobiology Institute and by the National Academy of Sciences Space Studies Board Committee on the Origins and Evolution of Life.

The current version of the updated roadmap is posted here for a two-month period in order to solicit your comments. The draft will then be further revised and presented in near-final form at the 2008 Astrobiology Science Conference to be held April 14-17, 2008 in Santa Clara , CA .

Please send comments to abroadmap@nx.arc.nasa.gov