Welcome to the NAI Newsletter! The Newsletter is a compendium of announcements, events, updates, and news items related to the NAI and its research. If you have news items or suggestions you can send them to the editor, Marco Boldt at: Marco.Boldt@nasa.gov.
Newsletter for March 26, 2008
- NAI Releases Request for Information
- New Astrobiology Program Website Launched
- Draft Stand Alone Missions of Opportunity: Notice Announcement of Opportunity
- Request for Information (RFI) New Science Investigations using Existing NASA Spacecraft
- RFI from NRC on Science Opportunities Enabled by NASA’s Constellation System
- RFI for Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE)
- 3/31 NAI Director's Seminar: "Earth's Low Temperature Life: An Analog for Mars and Europa?"
NAI Releases Request for Information
The NAI has released a Request for Information entitled “Collaborative Technology Tools and Methods For Distributed Interdisciplinary Science.” For more information, see: http://astrobiology.nasa.gov/articles/nai-request-for-information/
New Astrobiology Program Website Launched
The new integrated website for NASA’s Astrobiology Program was launched on Friday, March 21: http://astrobiology.nasa.gov/. The link to the NAI website remains the same: http://nai.nasa.gov and its contents have been redesigned and integrated with the program site. NAI Central staff worked with Astrobiology Program Communications Coordinator, Linda Billings, to design and implement the new website. We’re pleased that NAI Central has been able to make this contribution to the Astrobiology Program and the community. We invite you to take a look at the new site and send us your comments, using the page feedback boxes online.
Draft Stand Alone Missions of Opportunity: Notice Announcement of Opportunity
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Stand Alone Missions of Opportunity Notice (SALMON), is intended to provide regular opportunities for science and technology investigations on space flight missions that advance the high priority science, technology, and exploration objectives of NASA's four Mission Directorates. This five year Omnibus Announcement of Opportunity (AO) will incorporate regular Program Element Appendices (PEAs) for general Mission of Opportunity (MO) proposal opportunities as well as focused proposal opportunities for specific flight opportunities. The five PEAs included in this DRAFT solicitation are: Lunar and Planetary Science Partner Missions of Opportunity, Lunar and Planetary Science U.S. Participating Investigators, Small Complete Missions of Opportunity in Astrobiology and Fundamental Space Biology, Earth Science U.S. Participating Investigators, and Astrophysics U.S. Participating Investigators. Participation in this AO will be open to all categories of organizations.
NASA welcomes critical review and comment of this DRAFT, which will be available from March 14, 2008, through April 4, 2008, at http://nspires.nasaprs.com/.
Send comments to Dr. Carlos Liceaga, Science Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters, Washington, DC 20546-0001. E-mail: Carlos.A.Liceaga@nasa.gov. Comments are preferred in writing and may be sent by E-mail; the character string "SALMON DRAFT AO" (without quotes) should be included in the subject line of all transmissions. The identity of those submitting comments will be held in confidence.
Answers to frequently asked questions about this DRAFT will be made available on the SALMON Acquisition Additional Information web page: http://salmon.larc.nasa.gov/index.html .
Request for Information (RFI) New Science Investigations using Existing NASA Spacecraft
Science Mission Directorate, NASA
Solicitation Number: NNH08ZDA005L
Release Date: March 14, 2008
Response Date: April 9, 2008
NASA is soliciting ideas and suggestions from the science and research communities on potential new uses of existing NASA science spacecraft that support NASA's science goals.
NASA's Science Mission Directorate (SMD) currently sponsors approximately 85 flight missions, involving over 90 spacecraft, divided between missions in development and missions in operations. One of SMD's programmatic objectives is to maximize the science return for the Nation within the available budget. This Request for Information (RFI) solicits input from the broad space science community that would contribute to NASA's study of possible new uses for current NASA spacecraft beyond their current missions. Responses to this RFI (NNH08ZDA005L) will be used to inform NASA's program planning.
The complete RFI including background, requested information, and instructions for responding may be found at http://nspires.nasaprs.com/ (select "Solicitations" then "Open Solicitations" then "Request for Information (NNH08ZDA005L): New Science Investigations using Existing NASA Spacecraft").
For further information on this RFI, please contact Dr. Paul Hertz, Science Mission Directorate, NASA, Washington, DC 20546; email at paul.hertz@nasa.gov.
RFI from NRC on Science Opportunities Enabled by NASA’s Constellation System
The Space Studies Board and the Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board of the National Research Council (NRC) have begun a study of science opportunities enabled by NASA’s Constellation system of launch vehicles and spacecraft. The Committee on Science Opportunities Enabled by NASA’s Constellation System will first analyze a set of “Vision Mission” concepts provided by NASA. The results of this analysis will be included in an interim report to be completed by the end of April 2008. The mission concepts that the committee is analyzing for its interim report are listed on the committee’s website: http://www8.nationalacademies.org/cp/projectview.aspx?key=48895
In order to obtain the greatest possible input of ideas from the community about potential mission concepts addressing space science research, we are soliciting input from the broad community concerning ideas for missions or programs that are uniquely enabled by NASA’s Constellation system. The capabilities of the Constellation system, some or all of which should be used in this input, are also available at the committee’s website. These missions or programs can include, but are not limited to: Earth sciences, solar system exploration, heliophysics, astronomy and astrophysics.
For further information on this RFI, see http://www8.nationalacademies.org/cp/projectview.aspx?key=48895.
Deadline is May 5, 2008.
RFI for Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE)
The Government is seeking information regarding existing instruments (such as flight spares and engineering models) that could be quickly flight qualified, accommodated, and flown on the Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE), scheduled for a 2010-2011 launch. The Government is also interested in potential "build to print" possibilities from existing flight instruments, in the event that there are no flight spares available. In particular, the Government is seeking capable neutral mass spectrometers and sensitive dust detectors for this opportunity. However other available lightweight instrument types that could provide alternative data sets to address the composition and structure of the tenuous lunar atmosphere, or the presence and distribution of dust above the lunar surface, will also be considered.
In accordance with FAR 15.201 (e), the information requested is for planning purposes only and is not intended to bind the Government. This information will be used to inform NASA's program planning, including consideration of whether and how to solicit instruments for the LADEE mission.
Background
LADEE is a strategic mission that will address science goals 8a and 8b from the 2007 National Research Council Study "The Scientific Context for Exploration of the Moon" to the extent that is possible within the limitations imposed by mass, cost, and duration of the proposed mission.
The objectives of the LADEE mission are:
1. Determine the global density, composition, and time variability of the fragile lunar atmosphere before it is perturbed by further human activity;
2. Determine if the Apollo astronaut sightings of diffuse emission at
10s of km above the surface were Na glow or dust and;
3. Document the dust impactor environment (size-frequency) to help guide design engineering for the outpost and also future robotic missions.
NASA expects to place this orbiter into a low orbit (tentatively about 50 km) for at least four months (one month of check-out, and three months of data collection). The mission will be small; it is expected that the total available mass for all two or even three payload instruments will be approximately 20 kg. The available payload power is approximately 60W, but can peak to 100W depending on spacecraft orientation and thermal constraints. The payload data rate is approximately 10Kbps with our baseline S-band communications system. Detailed trade studies of orbital elements versus payload mass and mission length are underway now. The orbiter payload is expected to include two instruments: a dust detector and a neutral mass spectrometer. However, there may be sufficient mass to include an additional atmospheric instrument. The mass devoted to science payload (instruments) is strictly limited, and will not be allowed to grow. The tight schedule (in order to reach launch in 2010-2011) and limited budget precludes extensive instrument development for this mission.
The complete RFI including background, requested information, and instructions for responding may be found at http://nspires.nasaprs.com/ (select "Solicitations" then "Open
Solicitations" then "Request for Information (NNH08ZDA006L): Instruments for LADEE Lunar Mission").
Responses to this RFI must be submitted no later than April 18, 2008.
3/31 NAI Director's Seminar: "Earth's Low Temperature Life: An Analog for Mars and Europa?"
Presenters: Jody Deming and James Staley (University of Washington)
Date/Time: Monday, March 31, 2008 11:00 AM Pacific
Abstract:
Earth's solar system harbors many frozen environments that contain liquid water and therefore present a rationale to consider the possibility of microbial life within them. The subsurface realms of Mars and Europa are two such examples. Among the many different types of frozen environments on Earth, sea ice has captured astrobiological attention for its retention of significant liquid water (brine) even as the eutectic of seawater is approached (-55 C), and because liquid water on Mars and Europa is expected to be salty as well. We have each explored this environment as a model system for studying various ecological, physiological and diversity aspects of microbial life at very low temperatures. A critical determinant of many life processes in very cold saline ice appears to be the presence of organic exopolymers which serve multiple functions as they coat a cell, from enhancing cryopreservation to enabling metabolic activity. One psychrophilic or cold-adapted bacterium isolated from Arctic sea ice and brought into pure culture, Psychromonas ingrahamii, has been shown to grow at temperatures of -12 C or lower. The recent sequencing of its genome is providing new information about the properties that help explain the adaptation of life to subzero temperatures.
For more information and participation instructions: http://nai.arc.nasa.gov/seminars/seminar_detail.cfm?ID=119
Recently Published Research from the NAI
Meteorites a Rich Source for Primordial Soup
Scientists from NAI’s Carnegie Institution of Washington Team have a new paper in Meteoritics and Planetary Science detailing their discovery of amino acids in two meteorites at concentrations ten times higher than levels previously measured in other similar meteorites. The result suggests that the early solar system was far richer in the organic building blocks of life than scientists had thought, and that fallout from space may have spiked Earth’s primordial broth.
Astrobiology EPO, Undergrads, Grads, Postdocs
New Classroom Materials from the NAI: Exploring Deep Subsurface Life
Created by NAI's IPTAI Team the Exploring Deep Subsurface Life Workbook and DVD teaching materials highlight research sites at Harmony Gold Mine in South Africa, and Lupin Gold Mine and High Lake Mine in Nunavut Territory, Canada. The workbook¹s imagery invites the audience into the mine sites, and the lessons correspond to the astrobiology research carried out in the deep subsurface. The video and animation materials support and compliment the lessons in the workbook and introduce the scientists. The materials can be accessed at: http://www.indiana.edu/~deeplife/epo_products.html
The 15th Cambridge Workshop on Cool Stars, Stellar Systems and the Sun
July 21-25, 2008, St Andrews, Scotland
The Cool Stars meetings have a long tradition of presenting cutting edge science in the fields of cool stars, exoplanets and solar physics. Topics of interest at Cool Stars 15 will include seismology, surface and atmospheric dynamics, angular momentum evolution, dust formation, coronae, magnetospheres and winds. The conference aims to gather scientists working in all these fields in order to stimulate cross-disciplinary exchange. The NAI is sponsoring 9 speakers at this meeting.
For a preliminary program and registration see: http://star-www.st-and.ac.uk/coolstars15/
The deadline for contributed talks is May 2, 2008.
Upcoming NAI Focus Group Meetings at AbSciCon April 14-17, 2008.
NAI Virus Focus Group, Monday, April 14, 1 -5:30PM, Room 207
NAI Origin of Life Focus Group, Wednesday, April 16, Lunch Hour, Room 206
NAI Early Earth Focus Group, Wednesday, April 16, Lunch Hour, Great America #1
NAI Mars Focus Group, Wednesday, April 16, Lunch Hour, Great America #2
NAI Planetary System Formation, Wednesday, April 16, Lunch Hour, Great America #3
Conference Center Floor Plan http://www.santaclara.org/conventioncenter/floorplan.cfm
