The Mars Sample Return (MSR) campaign, initiated in 2020 with the launch of the Perseverance Rover, is an international partnership between NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) to return […]
BSL4
Posted inBiosignatures & Paleobiology, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Habitable Zones, Microbiology & Virology, Missions & Hardware, Planetary Protection & Biosafety, Status Report
Plasmidome, Resistome, and Virulence-associated Genes Characterization of Acinetobacter Johnsonii in NASA Cleanrooms and a Clinical Setting
Evidence shows persistence of non-spore-forming Acinetobacter johnsonii in high-stakes controlled and nutrient-limited environments.
Posted inBiosignatures & Paleobiology, Mars, Missions & Hardware, Planetary Protection & Biosafety, Sample Return, Status Report
Preliminary Planning For Mars Sample Return (MSR) Curation Activities in a Sample Receiving Facility (SRF)
The Mars Sample Return Planning Group 2 (MSPG2) was tasked with identifying the steps that encompass all the curation activities that would happen within the MSR Sample Receiving Facility (SRF) […]
Posted inAnalog Studies, Arctic / Antarctic / Alpine, Astrochemistry, Astrogeology, Away Teams & Field Reports, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Caves, Craters, Mountains, Subsurface, Lava Tubes, Exploration Gear & Tech, Fossils & Paleontology, Meteorites & Asteroids, Microbiology & Virology, Missions & Hardware, Planetary Protection & Biosafety, Sample Return, Status Report
Community Need For An Astrobiology Sample Repository And Sample Reference Suite – NASA DARES White Paper
As we prepare for the next planetary mission charged with finding life beyond Earth, the Astrobiology community must continue to improve its understanding of what constitutes a biosignature, through the […]
Posted inAstrogeology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Mars, Missions & Hardware, Planetary Protection & Biosafety, Press Release, Robotics/Rovers/UAVs
Science Priorities For The Extraction Of The Solid MSR Samples From Their Sample Tubes
Preservation of the chemical and structural integrity of samples that will be brought back from Mars is paramount to achieving the scientific objectives of MSR.