NASA Astrobiology Institute (NAI)

University of California, Berkeley

Executive Summary

Berkeley Executive Summary

Project Reports

Landforms made by groundwater discharge on Mars and Earth

Characterization of Aqueous Processes on Mars Through Spectral Remote Sensing

Climate, Habitability, and the Atmosphere on early Mars

Early oceans on Mars

Earthbound microbial and geological robotic based observations for Mars

Evolution of the interior and its consequences for water on Mars

Iron and sulfur-based biospheres and their biosignatures

Isotopic fingerprints of past life and surface conditions on Mars

EPO Reports

Project Reports

Organized by Astrobiology Roadmap Objective

Goal 1: Understand the nature and distribution of habitable environments in the Universe

• Objective 1.1: Models of formation and evolution of habitable planets (5 reports)
• Objective 1.2: Indirect and direct astronomical observations of extrasolar habitable planets (1 reports)

Goal 2: Explore for past or present habitable environments, prebiotic chemistry and signs of life elsewhere in our Solar System

• Objective 2.1: Mars exploration (5 reports)
• Objective 2.2: Outer Solar System exploration (1 reports)

Goal 3: Understand how life originates from cosmic and planetary precursors

• Objective 3.1: Sources of prebiotic materials and catalysts (1 reports)

Goal 4: Understand how past life on Earth interacted with its changing planetary and Solar System environment

• Objective 4.1: Earth's early biosphere (1 reports)

Goal 5: Understand the evolutionary mechanisms and environmental limits of life

• Objective 5.1: Environment-dependent, molecular evolution in microorganisms (1 reports)
• Objective 5.3: Biochemical adaptation to extreme environments (1 reports)

Goal 6: Understand the principles that will shape the future of life, both on Earth and beyond

• Objective 6.1: Environmental changes and the cycling of elements by the biota, communities, and ecosystems (2 reports)

Goal 7: Determine how to recognize signatures of life on other worlds and on early Earth

• Objective 7.1: Biosignatures to be sought in Solar System materials (3 reports)
• Objective 7.2: Biosignatures to be sought in nearby planetary systems (2 reports)