• Prebiotic Chemistry and the Origin of Life 

  Prebiotic Chemistry is the study of how and when life originated from simple, biologically relevant molecules on the early Earth. Astrobiologists strive to understand where these organic molecules came from and the mechanisms that allowed them to organize into living cells. Studying how life began on Earth can help scientists determine if, how, and where life as we know it could arise in habitable environments on other bodies throughout the Universe.  

• Co-Evolution of Life and the Earth

  Since the first appearance of life on Earth, the evolution of living organisms and our planet have been intricately linked. Life affects the global chemical and physical properties of the Earth’s atmosphere, oceans, and land. Conversely, environmental factors on the planet impact the survival and reproductive success of life, shaping the evolution of entire ecosystems through time. Understanding this complex dance between life and the planet can provide insight into the future of life on our planet, and aid in the identification of other worlds capable of supporting biology. 

• Formation and Identification of Habitable Worlds

  Since then, thousands of exoplanets have been found, including planets similar in size to the Earth. As we have explored our own solar system, we have discovered environments, such as Saturn’s moon Enceladus, that are potentially habitable despite being very different from the Earth. Astrobiologists have an important role in determining how to characterize these worlds and identify those that might support habitable environments for life. This research draws on knowledge from studying the Earth, its formation and evolution, and factors like the interactions between the Sun and Earth’s habitability. 

• Search for Life beyond Earth 

  NASA Astrobiology is directly tied to NASA’s mission to search for signs of life beyond Earth. This includes developing both a framework for assessing and confirming the presence of life using community-based standards of evidence, and a process for communicating discoveries responsibly and in a timely manner to the people of Earth. NASA Astrobiology also works closely with NASA’s Office of Planetary Protection to safeguard against forward contamination of other worlds that could support habitable environments, such as Mars, and backward contamination of environments on Earth when materials are brought back from space to our planet. 

• Artemis and Moon to Mars 

  NASA Astrobiology will benefit from crewed exploration at the Moon and Mars in understanding lunar abiotic environments to assist in the search for life, discoveries of Earth history that may be found in lunar rock repository, and the biological potential of Mars. The Program is involved in NASA’s Moon to Mars Objectives to advance understanding of the origin of life in the solar system by identifying where and when potentially habitable environments exist(ed), what processes led to their formation, how planetary environments and habitable conditions have co-evolved over time, and whether there is evidence of past or present life in the solar system beyond Earth.

• Technology Development

  All research areas under NASA Astrobiology require the development of new technology and the incorporation of state-of-the-art methods including machine learning, artificial intelligence, and next generation computing. NASA Astrobiology works with the Planetary Exploration Science Technology Office to support research to design, build, and test equipment used to advance all of these areas. This includes equipment and techniques used in laboratory environments, the most extreme environments on Earth, alongside human missions to the Moon and Mars, on robotic missions throughout the solar system, and in the analysis of data on extrasolar planets gathered by powerful telescopes. 

Astrobiology on Earth

On Earth, NASA-funded astrobiologists study life’s ability to thrive on Earth under ‘extreme’ temperatures, pressures, pH, and other conditions.

This work can teach us how life as we know it could survive in similar environments on other worlds. This knowledge informs how NASA designs and builds missions that would characterize the habitability of and search for life on other planets and moons in our solar system.