NASA Unveils Its Short-Term Scientific Objectives With Publication of the NASA Astrobiology Roadmap in the Journal Astrobiology

http://www.liebertpub.com/press/prdetail.asp?id=276

For Immediate Release

Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.
September 26, 2003

For more information, contact:
Vicki Cohn
(914) 834-3100, ext. 617

NASA Unveils Its Short-Term Scientific Objectives With Publication of the
NASA Astrobiology Roadmap in the Journal Astrobiology

Larchmont, NY - The National Aeronautics and Space
Administration (NASA) has outlined its high-priority scientific objectives
for the next three to five years with the publication of its Astrobiology
Roadmap. The Roadmap is published in the Summer 2003 (Volume 3, Number 2)
issue of Astrobiology, a peer-reviewed journal published by Mary Ann
Liebert, Inc. (www.liebertpub.com). The Roadmap is available free online at
www.liebertpub.com/ast .

The three main questions that NASA's astrobiology research
effort seeks to answer are how does life begin and evolve, does life exist
elsewhere in the universe, and what is the future of life on Earth and
beyond? The NASA Astrobiology Roadmap guides researchers studying space,
Earth, and biological sciences on key areas of investigation.

"The roadmap takes into account the many snippets of knowledge and discovery
we've accumulated to date, and proposes a direct-and very much refined-route
to furthering our understanding of life in the universe," says journal
editor, Sherry L. Cady, Ph.D., Associate Professor in the Department of
Geology at Portland State University.

The Roadmap defines seven main scientific goals: understanding
the scope of environments in the universe that might support life;
discovering such environments in Earth's solar system; gaining knowledge
about the emergence of life; determining how early life on Earth interacted
and evolved with its changing environment; understanding the mechanisms of
evolution; determining what principles will shape life in the future; and
recognizing signs of life on early Earth and in other worlds. For each of
these goals, the Roadmap outlines specific, short-term scientific
objectives.

Examples of the scientific objectives include developing models
to investigate the formation and evolution of habitable planets, conducting
astronomical studies to observe habitable planets outside of Earth's solar
system, and exploring Mars through orbital and surface missions. Other
objectives focus on characterizing possible sources of the materials needed
for life to emerge and investigating how early life forms may have developed
and changed, enabling them to grow, divide, and convert nutrients into
energy. Additional studies would examine environmental changes and how
organisms and ecosystems adapt and evolve. Additionally, NASA provides
guidance on how to recognize and interpret "biosignatures," which are signs
that some form of life could exist or might have existed in ancient times on
other planets.

Astrobiology is an authoritative peer-reviewed journal published
quarterly in print and online. The journal provides a forum for scientists
seeking to advance our understanding of life's origins, evolution,
distribution and destiny in the universe. A complete table of contents and a
full text for this issue may be viewed online at www.liebertpub.com/ast.