The U.S. National Science Foundation released the draft of its South Pole Station Master Plan (SPSMP), which will inform investments planned under the NSF Antarctic Infrastructure Recapitalization program and ensure […]
Reports, Roadmaps, & Plans
Posted inMars, Missions & Hardware, Moon, Planetary Protection & Biosafety, Reports, Roadmaps, & Plans, Societal Issues, Status Report
Exogeoconservation: Protecting Geological Heritage On Celestial Bodies
Geoconservation is an increasingly widely adopted theoretical, practical and administrative approach to the protection of geological and geomorphological features of special scientific, functional, historic, cultural, aesthetic, or ecological value.
Posted inArtemis & Lunar Exploration, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Microbiology & Virology, Microgravity, Missions & Hardware, Plant Biology, Reports, Roadmaps, & Plans, Space Agriculture, Space Life Science, Space Physiology & Medicine, Status Report
Report: Strategies, Research Priorities, and Challenges for the Exploration of Space Beyond Low Earth Orbit
The Beyond Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Instrumentation & Science Series Science Working Group (BLISS-SWG) was established in December 2020 to provide NASA’s Space Biology Program with sustained input from a […]
Posted inAtmospheres, Climate, Weather, Missions & Hardware, Reports, Roadmaps, & Plans, Status Report, Venus
The Future Exploration Of Venus
After decades of relative neglect, interest in Venus surges anew in the planetary science community and the public.
Posted inAstronomy & Telescopes, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Reports, Roadmaps, & Plans, Status Report
Report of the Working Group on Strategic Exoplanet Initiatives with HST and JWST
This STScI Working Group (WG) was charged with soliciting community feedback and evaluating the strategic planning for exoplanet science with JWST and HST given the high quality of exoplanet observations, […]
Posted inEnceladus, Icy Worlds, Missions & Hardware, Reports, Roadmaps, & Plans, Status Report, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography
Enceladus Is A Top Target For ESA
A fresh, icy crust hides a deep, enigmatic ocean. Plumes of water burst through cracks in the ice, shooting into space. An intrepid lander collects samples and analyses them for […]
Posted inAstronomy & Telescopes, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Habitable Zones, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Reports, Roadmaps, & Plans, Status Report, Stellar Cartography, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography
NASA Exoplanet Exploration Program (ExEP) Mission Star List for the Habitable Worlds Observatory (2023)
Full document The Astro 2020 Decadal Survey “Pathways to Discovery in Astronomy and Astrophysics for the 2020s” has recommended that “after a successful mission and technology maturation program, NASA should […]
Posted inAway Teams & Field Reports, Exploration Gear & Tech, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Microbiology & Virology, Reports, Roadmaps, & Plans, Robotics/Rovers/UAVs, ROVs/Submersibles/Diving, Status Report, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography
The NASA Roadmap To Ocean Worlds
In this article, we summarize the work of the NASA Outer Planets Assessment Group (OPAG) Roadmaps to Ocean Worlds (ROW) group. The aim of this group is to assemble the […]
Posted inBiogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Habitable Zones, Icy Worlds, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Reports, Roadmaps, & Plans, Status Report, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography
Science Autonomy For Ocean Worlds Astrobiology: A Perspective
Astrobiology missions to ocean worlds in our solar system must overcome both scientific and technological challenges due to extreme temperature and radiation conditions, long communication times, and limited bandwidth.
Posted inAstrobiology (general), Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Conferences and Meetings, Reports, Roadmaps, & Plans, Status Report
Future Of The Search For Life: Workshop Report
The 2-week, virtual Future of the Search for Life science and engineering workshop brought together more than 100 scientists, engineers, and technologists in March and April 2022 to provide their […]