IAF Conference, Houston, TX, USA, October 2002

1
Alone?  A Discovery Sourcebook for Astrobiology

• IAF Conference, Houston, TX, USA, October 2002
• By the students of ISU SSP 2002

2
Introduction
3
Past, Present PlannedAstrobiology
Investigations
Mars Viking
Darwin
Arecibo
Eros
4
ALIVE - Properties of and Conditions for Life

• Definition of life
• Different definitions given by Evolutionists,
  Cell biologists, Molecular biologists,
  Geneticists, Ecologists, Chemists, Geologist,
  Physicist and Philosopher.
• Look at life as we know it!
• Extinct Life
• Extant Life

• Conditions for Life
• Habitable zones
• Extreme environments

5
Future Missions

• Solar System Bodies
• Science Objective
• Hot Targets
• Experiments
• Missions and Technology
• Proposed Missions
• New Space Technology
• Miniaturization
• Radiation Hardening of Electronics
• Advanced Propulsion
• Autonomous capabilities

Comet
Mars
Ion Propulsion
Autonomous capabilities
Miniaturization
6
Planetary Protection
7
Impact on Humanity

• Historical Perspective
• Mars channels ( 1895)
• War of the Worlds (1938)
• Discovery of quasars and pulsars (1965 and 1967)
• ALH84001 (1996)
• Scenarios
• Life on Mars (near/simple)
• WOW signal (far/intelligent)
• Theyre here!(near/intelligent)
• A planet in a galaxy far away (far/simple)
• Suggested guidelines

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Education

• Resource Review and Gap Analysis
• Suggested Activities for Target Group
• Phase 1 Introduction to Astrobiology
• Phase 2 What is Needed for Life on Earth?
• Phase 3 How to Look For, Protect Study Life?
• Phase 4 Which Planets/bodies in our Solar
  System are Best
• Suited to Contain Evidence of Life?
• Phase 5 What We are Doing to
• Learn More About Possible Life
• Outside our Planet?
• Phase 6 Designing Your
• Own Searches
• Implementation Plan

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Case Study

• Requirements
• 20 years time-frame
• potential astrobiology target
• existing launcher and communication facilities
• Jovian system investigation with astrobiology
  emphasis on Europa
• Orbiter - Probe carrier, RS device, comm relay
• Lander - Science payload on ice clipper, tethered
  to surface antenna

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Summary

• Covers wide scope
• PPPAI survey
• Outlined a curriculum
• PP Impact considered
• More missions are being planned for Astrobiology
• Case Study
• Sourcebook created (www.isunet.edu)

11
Planetary Protection
In the Interests of Humanity, Science, and
Politics
Legal Aspects
OST, Article 9
Ethics
Moon Treaty, Article 7
Politics
COSPAR -Recommendations -Guidelines -Report to UN
Forward Contamination
Backward Contamination
Containment (e.g. Mars Return Facility)
Biomass Reduction Methods
National Legislation
Curation
Cleaning
Sample Sterilization
Sterilization
Pristine Sample Bank
Clean Room
Detection and Analysis (DA)
BioHazard -Harmfulness
Life Detection -Life Detection Research -Gas -Fine
s
Physical/Chemical -Methods