Analog Studies
Posted inAnalog Studies, Arctic / Antarctic / Alpine, Astronauts and Explorers, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Cryobiology, Dale Andersen's Field Reports, Exploration Gear & Tech, Icy Worlds, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, People Of Astrobiology, Robotics/Rovers/UAVs, ROVs/Submersibles/Diving, Space Stations, Status Report

Dale Andersen’s Astrobiology Antarctic Status Report: 12 January 2026: Overland Traverse Imagery – And Hello ISS

by Keith Cowing

Keith’s note: Dale Andersen and his astrobiology research team departed the Ultima ice airstrip where they arrived the other day – and drove their snowmobiles south to their research base […]

Posted inAnalog Studies, Arctic / Antarctic / Alpine, Away Teams & Field Reports, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Cryobiology, Dale Andersen's Field Reports, Exploration Gear & Tech, Fossils & Paleontology, Icy Worlds, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Robotics/Rovers/UAVs, ROVs/Submersibles/Diving, Status Report, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography

Dale Andersen’s Astrobiology Antarctic Status Report: 11 January 2026: Overland Traverse To Lake Untersee (Update)

by Keith Cowing

Update: Dale and his team are now at Lake Untersee at S 71.260082° E 13.506017° at an elevation of 2,645 ft. Picture below. Dale Andersen and his team are now […]

Posted inAnalog Studies, Arctic / Antarctic / Alpine, Away Teams & Field Reports, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Dale Andersen's Field Reports, Exploration Gear & Tech, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Origin & Evolution of Life, Polar / Alpine Expeditions, Press Release, Robotics/Rovers/UAVs, ROVs/Submersibles/Diving, Sample Return, Tricorders & Sensors, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography

Dale Andersen’s Astrobiology Antarctic Status Report: 9 January 2026: Building Our New Storage Facility

by Keith Cowing

Hi Keith, we had another busy day moving and sorting gear. We hope to wrap that up tomorrow, and if everything comes together, we will head out on the traverse […]

Posted inAnalog Studies, Arctic / Antarctic / Alpine, Away Teams & Field Reports, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Cryobiology, Dale Andersen's Field Reports, Exploration Gear & Tech, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Icy Worlds, Polar / Alpine Expeditions, Press Release, ROVs/Submersibles/Diving, Sample Return, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography

Dale Andersen’s Astrobiology Antarctic Status Report: 7 January 2026: Arrival In Antarctica

by Keith Cowing

Keith’s note: I got this update by text from Dale early this morning:

Posted inAnalog Studies, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Habitable Zones, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Plant Biology, Press Release, Sample Return, Tricorders & Sensors, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography

Orbital Biosignature Assay: Lake Eyre

by Keith Cowing

Editor’s note: As we begin to study worlds in our own solar system that might have life we use our home world as a testbed for the various ways to […]

Posted inAnalog Studies, Arctic / Antarctic / Alpine, Away Teams & Field Reports, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Dale Andersen's Field Reports, Exploration Gear & Tech, Icy Worlds, Polar / Alpine Expeditions, ROVs/Submersibles/Diving, Status Report, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography

Dale Andersen’s Astrobiology Antarctic Status Report: 6 January 2026: Flying South to Antarctica

by Keith Cowing

Keith’s note: Astrobiologist Dale Andersen is heading back in Antarctica at Lake Untersee in January-February 2026 for another field season of research. Update: Dale and team have landed. Picture below.

Posted inAnalog Studies, Astropharmacy / Biotechnology, Away Teams & Field Reports, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Commercial & Private Sector, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Sample Return, Status Report

Halotolerant Bacteria From Mangrove And Restinga Ecosystems In Camocim, Brazil: Astrobiological Relevance And Biotechnological Potential

by Keith Cowing

Halotolerant bacteria possess significant scientific and biotechnological potential due to their ability to thrive in high-salinity environments and withstand other harsh conditions. Their adaptive mechanisms-such as the production of specialized […]

Posted inAnalog Studies, Astronomy & Telescopes, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Habitable Zones, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Press Release

NASA Selects Proposals To Advance The Habitable Worlds Observatory Astrobiology Mission Concept

by Keith Cowing

NASA announced Monday the selection of industry proposals to advance technologies for the agency’s Habitable Worlds Observatory concept – the first mission that would directly image Earth-like planets around stars […]

Posted inAnalog Studies, Arctic / Antarctic / Alpine, Away Teams & Field Reports, Cryobiology, Dale Andersen's Field Reports, Exploration Gear & Tech, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Microbiology & Virology, People Of Astrobiology, ROVs/Submersibles/Diving, Status Report, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography

Astrobiologist Dale Andersen’s Antarctic Field Report: 5 January 2026: Preparing to Leave Cape Town For The Ice

by Keith Cowing

Keith The team and all of our gear and cargo made it to Cape Town, which feels especially welcoming right now—warm, bright, and easy to settle into. Over Table Mountain, […]

Posted inAnalog Studies, Artemis & Lunar Exploration, Astrobiology (general), Astrogeology, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Away Teams & Field Reports, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Citizen Science / Open Science, Courses, Education and Outreach, Exploration Gear & Tech, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Missions & Hardware, Robotics/Rovers/UAVs, Sample Return, Space Life Science, Tricorders & Sensors

Tricorder Tech For Everyone: NASA’s STELLA Open Science Instrument

by Keith Cowing

Editor’s note: NASA has just authored a paper on a new way for people with a wide variety of interests to use – and build – sensor technology that is […]

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