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Home / NAI Director's Discretionary Fund
The NASA Astrobiology Institute selected 18 proposals for support through the 2007 NAI Director's Discretionary Fund. These awards allocated more than $1.7M toward strategic investments that advance the science of astrobiology, demonstrate impact to NASA's space flight programs or its broader science activities, and/or contribute to NASA's role as a federal R&D agency. New work made possible by this support includes the development of instrumentation for remote biosignature detection, the study of extra-solar planets, the simulation of the Martian environment, and the study of Earth in an astrobiological context from the Moon.
Congratulations to all the selected investigators, and to those new collaborators, "Welcome to the NAI!"
Selected Proposals:
Title: Remote Photoluminescence Surveyor (RPS)
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Investigators/Institution/Team:
Louis Allamandola (lead), NASA Ames Research Center, M. Gudipati, U Md/JPL, NASA Ames Research Center, A. Mattioda, NASA Ames Research Center/SETI Institute, L. Jahnke, NASA Ames Research Center, J. Roser, NASA Ames Research Center, M. Vogel, NASA Ames Research Center |
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Will measure UV-Visible pumped luminescence (fluorescence and phosphorescence) of a wide range of abiotic and biotic materials, on or slightly below the surface, measured under conditions that simulate Martian and lunar environments. This study will provide the fundamental data and demonstrate proof-of-concept for a novel, rover/lander-deployable instrument. |
Title: Funding for fieldtrip and special session during the International Geological Congress (IGC) in 2008 in Norway in association with the Fennoscandian Arctic Russia - Deep Drilling Project (FAR-DDP) |
Investigators/Institution/Team:
Andrey Bekker (lead) Carnegie Institution of Washington, L. Kump , Pennsylvania State U, O. Rouxel, Marine Biological Laboratory, T. Lyons, UCR, A. Anbar, ASU/NASA Ames Research Center, F. Kenig, U Illinois, Chicago, E. Krogstadt, Georgia State U, R. Summons, MIT/NASA Ames Research Center. J. Hannah, Colorado State U, H. Stein, Colorado State U, J. Grotzinger , Cal Tech, H. Staudigel, Scripps Institution of Oceanography |
Summary: Funding will support participation of US astrobiologists in drilling and accompanied fieldwork in the Fennoscandian Shield region, as well as attendance at a special session at the International Geological Congress in Norway in 2008. Analysis of these new samples will increase our understanding of the Earth's early environment, and its co-evolution with life during the transition from an anoxic to an oxic global environment, - an area of study relevant to critical issues of planetary habitability. |
Title: The Search for Rocky Planets |
Investigators/Institution/Team: R. Paul Butler (lead) Carnegie DTM, G. Marcy, UC Berkeley, J. Lissauer, NASA Ames Research Center, J. Bailey, Australian Centre for Astrobiology |
Summary: Funding to support extrasolar planet search data analysis of terrestrial mass planets identified from Keck and Anglo-Australian data. The team will analyze Doppler velocity signals, of the smallest amplitude resolvable by current methods, which utilize the most recent improvements in measurement precision (~ 1 m/s line-of-sight velocity). This work, the search for low-mass planets, is the most promising route for addressing two of the most fundamental questions of astrobiology: how common are Solar System analogues and how common are Earth-mass planets around the nearest 1,000 Sun-like stars? |
Title: Astrobiology Sample Analysis Program (ASAP) for Advanced Life Detection Instrumentation Development and Calibration |
Investigators/Institution/Team: Daniel Glavin (lead) NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, J. Dworkin, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, J. Eigenbrode, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, P. Mahaffy, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, W. Brinckerhoff, JHU/APL, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, M. Fries, Carnegie Institution of Washington, A. Steele, Carnegie Institution of Washington, L. Allamandola, NASA Ames Research Center, M. Bernstein, NASA Ames Research Center, D. Blake, NASA Ames Research Center, S. Sandford, NASA Ames Research Center |
Summary: Formation of a consortium, Astrobiology Sample Analysis Program (ASAP) to analyze a common set of Martian analog materials. The analog samples will include an Atacama Desert soil from Chile, the Murchison meteorite, a sulfate rich rock from the Svalbard Mars analog site, and a sample collected from an unknown site during the 2007 MSL slow-motion field test, to: (1) determine the nature and inventory of organics, (2) measure the bulk isotopic composition of volatiles, (3) investigate the mineralogy and matrix, and (4) search for biological activity in the samples. To provide ground truth measurements for in situ life detection instrumentation on future Mars missions |
Title: Support of the 2008 Origin of Life Gordon Research Conference |
Investigators/Institution/Team: Robert Hazen (lead) Carnegie Institution of Washington |
Summary: Support for a special Gordon Research Conference session focused on the chemical origin of life, evolution of early life, extremophilic environments and organisms, and the detection of life on other planets and moons. |
Title: Molecular Signatures of Life on the Edge |
Investigators/Institution/Team: Chris House (lead), Pennsylvania State U, J. Dworkin, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, S. Fitz-Gibbon, UCLA, K. Freeman, Pennsylvania State U, D. Glavin, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, K. McKeegan, UCLA, A. Teske, UNC/Marine Biological Laboratory, K. Dawson, Pennsylvania State U, K. Lloyd, UNC, M. Rhodes, Pennsylvania State U, O. Beja, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, A. Oren, Hebrew Univ, Jerusalem |
Summary: Due to acidic pH, extreme salinity, near toxic magnesium levels, and the dominance of divalent cations, the current Dead Sea represents a unique Earth ecosystem with similarities to space mission targets. The team will investigate the molecular biosignatures of life in the Dead Sea by, 1) identifying DNA-based signatures of hypersaline life, (2) revealing organic biosignatures (cells, lipids, phospholipids, and amino acids) from the water and sediments, (3) integrating results with measured geochemistry, and 4) inviting analysis by international collaborators. |
Title: AbGradCon at Bioastronomy 2007 |
Investigators/Institution/Team: Karen Meech (lead) U of Hawaii, A. Mandell, Pennsylvania State U, S. Goldman, Pennsylvania State U, F. Battistuzzi, Pennsylvania State U M. Trainer, U Colorado Boulder , M. Mumma, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center , H. Ohmoto, Pennsylvania State U |
Summary:
Support for the third AbGradCon meeting, to be held in San Juan , Puerto Rico , July 14 - 15, 2007. This meeting is organized by and for graduate students and early post docs, and plays an important role in fostering communication within the broad astrobiology community, |
Title: Workshop: Origin of Water on the Terrestrial Planets |
Investigators/Institution/Team:
Karen Meech (lead), U of Hawaii, M. Mottl, U of Hawaii, N. Haghighipour, U of Hawaii, S. Mojzsis, U Colorado Boulder, M. Mumma, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center , E. Young, UCLA |
Summary: A two-day workshop will be held to discuss the issues related to the origin of water on Earth and identify where interdisciplinary approaches might yield the most progress. The group proposes to prepare papers for a special issue of Astrobiology and assess the value of establishing a "Terrestrial Planetary Water" focus group. |
Title: Chemical Constraints on the Formation and Evolution of Habitable Worlds: A Workshop to Combine Astronomical, Laboratory, and Theoretical Approaches |
Investigators/Institution/Team:
Michael Meyer (lead), University of Arizona, E. Young, UCLA, S. Davis, NASA Ames Research Center S, Charney, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center M, Jura, UCLA M, Mumma, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, K, Meech, U of Hawaii, L, Ziurys, University of Arizona D. Laurretta, University of Arizona |
Summary: This workshop will focus on constraining the chemical conditions under which solar system materials form, by combining laboratory, telescopic and theoretical approaches to understanding the origin and evolution of organic molecules and other volatiles in planet forming disks which could give rise to life. |
Title: Field Workshop on Biosignatures in Ancient Rocks |
Investigators/Institution/Team: Hiroshi Ohmoto (lead) Pennsylvania State U, L. Kump , Pennsylvania State U, B. Runnegar, UCLA, M. Fogel, Carnegie Institution of Washington , D. Emerson, GWU/UCB, R. Kerrich, U of Saskatchewan |
Summary: A field expedition and workshop in southern Ontario , Canada is planned to evaluate biosignatures, in ancient sedimentary rocks, that may be used in the search for life (extant or extinct) in Martian (or other planetary) rocks |
Title: Mars Environmental Simulator Studies of Forward Contamination and Biogeochemical Processes |
Investigators/Institution/Team:
T.C. Onstott (lead), Princeton/IPTAI, L.M. Pratt, Indiana U/IPTAI, D. Bish, Indiana U/IPTAI Indiana U/IPTAI, A. Schimmelman, Indiana U/IPTAI, S.M. Pfiffner, U of Tennessee/IPTAI, B. Sherwood Lollar, U of Toronto / IPTAI, T.C. Hazen, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory/IPTAI , R. Mancinelli, SETI Institute, L. Rothschild, NASA Ames Research Center, P. Todd, SHOT, Inc., P. Kounaves, Tufts U, K. Zacny, Honeybee Robotics, P. Mahaffy, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, A. Schuerger, U of Florida, J. Bada, UCSD
L. Becker, UCSB, C. Omelon, U of Toronto |
Summary: Experiments will identify potential processes influencing the fate of biomarkers and microorganisms under simulated Martian environmental conditions, through examination of 1) survival of psychrotolerant and radiation resistant microbes and communities, 2) compound-specific fate of biomarkers including amino acids, lipids and hydrocarbons in the presence of hydrous sulfates, UV and heavy ion radiation, and 3) observation of forward contamination by robotic minicorer sampling. |
Title: Astrobiology Research Experience for Undergraduates at the SETI Institute and NASA Ames Research Center |
Investigators/Institution/Team: Cynthia Phillips (lead) SETI Institute, J. Bishop, SETI Institute, R. Mancinelli, SETI Institute, E. DeVore, SETI Institute, S. Sandford, NASA Ames Research Center, J. Skiles, NASA Ames Research Center, H. D'Antoni, NASA Ames Research Center |
Summary: The SETI Institute currently hosts a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program in Astrobiology, funded by NSF. The NAI will support 4 additional students for summer 2007, for a total of 15 students in the program. Two of the new students will be matched with mentors who are members of the NAI NASA Ames Research Center Team, and two will be matched with NAI SETI Institute scientists. The proposal will enhance an already successful program at the SETI Institute, as well as encourage interaction between the SETI Institute and NASA Ames Research Center NAI teams. |
Title: Workshop: Cyanobacteria in a Lunar Environment |
Investigators/Institution/Team: Andrew Pohorille (lead) NASA Ames Research Center, L. Bebout, NASA Ames Research Center, R. Mancinelli, SETI Institute, D. Bhaya, Carnegie Institution of Washington |
Summary: A workshop will be organized to bring together microbiologists, planetary scientists and experts in flight experiments and hardware to assess the feasibility of, and to develop scenarios for, studying cyanobacteria in the space environment. The long-term, strategic goals of this program are to establish, maintain and grow cultures of cyanobacteria in a lunar environment, and facilitate systematic research on survival, acclimation and adaptation of microbial life to conditions in space. |
Title: Biogeochemical Forensics of Fe-Based Microbial Systems: Defining Mission Targets and Tactics for Life Detection on Mars |
Investigators/Institution/Team:
Eric Roden (lead), U C Berkeley, J. Banfield, UC Berkeley, J. Eigenbrode, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, D. Emerson, ATCC/UC Berkeley, M. Fogel, Carnegie Institution of Washington, G. Luther, U Delaware/UC Berkeley M. Sogin, Marine Biological Laboratory |
Summary:
This project will examine mineralogical and organic signatures of life in three different Fe redox-based microbial ecosystems on Earth, in order to provide priority targets and guide analytical tactics for life detection in future missions to Mars. They will study the biogeochemistry of three field sites that represent a range of scenarios in which Fe-based microbial ecosystems may produce identifiable biosignatures analogous to those to be sought on Mars: acidic Fe-rich sediments and concretions in Lake Tyrell, Victoria, Australia ; partially-saturated, weathered Pliocene-age basalts in Box Canyon , Idaho , and neutral pH groundwater Fe springs in northern Virginia . |
Title: Extreme Habitability Workshop |
Investigators/Institution/Team: Steinn Sigurdsson (lead) Pennsylvania State U, |
Summary:
The NAI will provide partial support for a half-day workshop on "Extreme Habitability" concurrent with the "Extreme Solar Systems" conference at Santorini , Greece June 29 th , 2007. The workshop will focus on prospects for, and signatures of, life developing on planets unlike the Earth. In particular, terrestrial planets around low mass stars; and ``Super Earths'', planets more massive than the Earth, around Solar like stars. |
Title: New Paradigms for Remote Sensing and Monitoring of Microbial Ecosystems |
Investigators/Institution/Team: Mitch Sogin (lead) Marine Biological Laboratory, M. Mumma, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center , N. Pace, U Colorado Boulder |
Summary: A workshop will be held to explore experimental paradigms for the use of remote sensing of biosignatures to detect activities of microbial communities. In order to take advantage of the opportunity to monitor global change from orbit, we must integrate ground-based and remote sensing technology. By coupling biosignatures with molecular inventories of phylotypes in microbial communities a predictive framework to monitor composition and functions of microbial communities can be established, to thereby monitor the health of the planet. |
Title: Geomicrobiology of a Unique Ice-Sulfur Spring Ecosystem in the High Canadian Arctic : A Testbed for Europa Exploration |
Investigators/Institution/Team:
Alexis Templeton (lead) Univ. Colorado , Boulder (U Colorado Boulder), J. Spear, Colorado School of Mines/NASA Ames Research Center, R. Pappalardo, JPL/U Colorado Boulder S. Grasby, Geological Survey of Canada |
Summary: The sulfur-rich springs hosted in glacial ice at Borup Fiord Pass in the Canadian High Arctic is an analog for Europa. Analyses suggest that the system hosts a dynamic sulfur cycle, and that some indigenous sulfur-dependent microorganisms may be amenable to cultivation and molecular characterization. This study will elucidate how the chemistry and geological structure of Borup Fiord controls the metabolism and diversity of ice hosted microorganisms. |
Title: Earth Science and Astrobiology from the Moon or near Moon |
Investigators/Institution/Team: Neville Woolf (lead) University of Arizona , J. Kasting , Pennsylvania State U, M. Mumma, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center |
Summary:
This project proposes a joint Astrobiology-Earth Science observing station, either near or on the Moon, to 1) prepare for TPF missions and those beyond, e.g. Life Finder, 2) include alternative options for these missions by learning how to detect liquid water on planets via spectropolarimetry, 3) use Earth images to ìground truthî, and modify the interpretive process, 4) integrate studies with Earth scientists, and develop a broad group of astrobiologists for the study, 5) provide a more economical version of the DSCOVR mission to cross calibrate Earth satellite observations and to make studies related to climate change, 6) explore the minimal equipment that satisfies both the astrobiology and Earth Science needs, and 7) present to NASA various options for such a package with their pros and cons so as to plan optimum integration with the Lunar initiative. |
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