NASA astronaut and Expedition 73 Flight Engineer Nichole Ayers conducts research operations inside the Kibo laboratory module’s Life Science Glovebox aboard the International Space Station.
Biosafety
Posted inBiogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Microbiology & Virology, Missions & Hardware, Planetary Protection & Biosafety, Sample Return, Status Report
Space Microbial Culture Collection Selected As The Official Microbial Isolate Repository For Planetary Protection Research
The Space Microbial Culture Collection (SMCC) has been awarded a grant from NASA’s Planetary Science Division through the Planetary Protection Research (PPR) program to serve as the official repository for […]
Posted inBiosignatures & Paleobiology, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Microbiology & Virology, Missions & Hardware, Panspermia, Planetary Protection & Biosafety, Sample Return, Status Report
Extremotolerant Bacteria Identified In The NASA Mars Phoenix Cleanroom
Abstract Background Human-designed oligotrophic environments, such as cleanrooms, harbor unique microbial communities shaped by selective pressures like temperature, humidity, nutrient availability, cleaning reagents, and radiation. Maintaining the biological cleanliness of […]
Posted inBiophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Microbiology & Virology, Missions & Hardware, Planetary Protection & Biosafety, Status Report
Identification of Bacillus Species Isolated From Cleanrooms at NASA Johnson Space Center
Bacteria are frequently isolated from surfaces in cleanrooms, where astromaterials are curated, at NASA’s Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center (JSC). Bacillus species are of particular interest because endospores can endure […]
Posted inAway Teams & Field Reports, Exploration Gear & Tech, Habitable Zones, Life Support Systems, Mars, Missions & Hardware, Planetary Protection & Biosafety, Status Report
Status Update Of NASA’s Assessment Of The Biological Contamination Threat Of Crewed Mars Surface Missions
As we prepare for a future first mission to Mars with a human crew, the United States, under the Outer Space Treaty of 1967, has an obligation to protect against […]
Posted inAI - Data - Apps - Cybernetics, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Citizen Science / Open Science, Commercial & Private Sector, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Nanotechnology & SynBio, Status Report
Genome Modeling And Design Across All Domains Of Life With Evo 2
All of life encodes information with DNA. While tools for sequencing, synthesis, and editing of genomic code have transformed biological research, intelligently composing new biological systems would also require a […]
Posted inMicrobiology & Virology, Missions & Hardware, Planetary Protection & Biosafety, Radiation, Sample Return, Status Report
Active Plasma Sterilizer For Planetary Protection And Contamination Control For Space Missions
This paper introduces a novel, compact plasma sterilization system, the Active Plasma Sterilizer (APS), for planetary protection space missions.
Posted inBiosignatures & Paleobiology, Comets and Asteroids, Mars, Meteorites & Asteroids, Microbiology & Virology, Missions & Hardware, NASA Astrobiology Program, Planetary Protection & Biosafety, Policy, Sample Return, Status Report
NASA’s Office of Planetary Protection Has A New Logo
Editor’s note: According to a LinkedIn post by James Benardini, Planetary Protection Officer at NASA: “NASA’s Office of Planetary Protection just released it’s new logo today! Excited to share this […]
Posted inAstrobiology (general), Away Teams & Field Reports, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Conferences and Meetings, Exploration Gear & Tech, Planetary Protection & Biosafety, Status Report
Virtual Workshop: Planetary Protection In Advance of Human Missions
The Science Mission Directorate is facilitating a series of workshops aimed at discussing the priority science goals and Planetary Protection knowledge gaps that NASA should address in advance of human […]
Posted inArtemis & Lunar Exploration, Away Teams & Field Reports, Career Opportunities, Conferences and Meetings, Meteorites & Asteroids, Missions & Hardware, Planetary Protection & Biosafety, Status Report
Small Sample Handling Workshop
The Lunar and Planetary Institute is accepting applications for a Small Sample Handling Workshop. This training event is scheduled for June 4-6, 2024, in Tempe, Arizona, at Arizona State University.