• Criteria for mixing rules application for inhomogeneous astrophysical grains, astro-ph
• Accounting for velocity jitters in planet search surveys, astro-ph
• Five Planets Orbiting 55 Cancri, astro-ph

Posted by Keith Cowing at 12:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

• How Mars could have been warm and wet but limestone-free, MIT
• Mars rovers find new evidence of 'habitable niche'; perilous third winter approaches, Cornell

Posted by Keith Cowing at 12:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Committee on the Review of the NASA Astrobiology Institute, National Research Council

Full report

Executive Summary: Astrobiology is a scientific discipline devoted to the study of life in the universe--its origin, evolution, distribution, and future. It brings together the physical and biological sciences to address some of the most fundamental questions of the natural world: How do living systems emerge? How do habitable worlds form and how do they evolve? Does life exist on worlds other than Earth? The tremendous breadth and depth of this endeavor requires interdisciplinary investigation in order to be fully appreciated and examined.

As part of a concerted effort to undertake such a challenge, the NASA Astrobiology Institute (NAI) was established in 1998 as an innovative way to develop the field of astrobiology and provide a scientific framework for flight missions. Now that the NAI has been in existence for almost a decade, the time is ripe to assess its achievements.

At the request of NASA's Associate Administrator for the Science Mission Directorate (SMD) the Committee on the Review of the NASA Astrobiology Institute undertook the assignment to determine the progress made by the NAI in developing the field of astrobiology (Appendix A). It must be emphasized that the purpose of this study was not to undertake a review of the scientific accomplishments of NASA's Astrobiology program, in general, or the NAI, in particular. Rather, the objective of the study is to evaluate the success of the NAI in achieving its stated goals of:

1. Conducting, supporting, and catalyzing collaborative interdisciplinary research;
2. Training the next generation of astrobiology researchers;
3. Providing scientific and technical leadership on astrobiology investigations for current and future space missions;
4. Exploring new approaches, using modern information technology, to conduct interdisciplinary and collaborative research amongst widely-distributed investigators; and
5. Supporting outreach by providing scientific content for K-12 education programs, teaching undergraduate classes, and communicating directly with the public.

The committee's assessment of the NAI's progress in these five areas can be found in Chapters 2 to 6, respectively. In evaluating the success of the NAI in achieving these five goals, the committee was requested to address the following considerations:

1. Has the NAI developed, as envisioned, as an evolving experiment in cutting-edge, distributed, collaborative science and education in astrobiology?
2. Does the NAI provide a unique and useful complement to other Astrobiology program support mechanisms (e.g., individual grants to principal investigators), and if improvements need to be made in this area, what are they?
3. Are the research, training, and public educational activities of the NAI appropriately balanced in terms of investments and outcomes, services to NAI members and external partners, and activities that engage and support the wider astrobiology community and the needs of young professionals?
4. What other activities/roles not currently undertaken by the NAI might be appropriate in future?

The committee's responses to these four criteria can be found in subsections in Chapters 2 to 6. Specific recommendations and suggestions as to how these recommendations may be implemented can be found in the final subsection of the same chapters.

Information on the origins of NASA's Astrobiology program and the NAI; a summary of comments on the role, status, and scientific importance of astrobiology from previous NRC reports; and some information on the budgetary history and the impact of recent cuts to the Astrobiology budget can be found in Chapter 1.

Posted by Keith Cowing at 12:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

• NASA Spaceline 21 December 2007 Current Space Life Science Awareness
• Assessment of the NASA Astrobiology Institute, NRC
• Complex Organic Materials in the Circumstellar Disk of HR 4796A, astro-ph
• 10,000 Earths' Worth of Fresh Dust Found Near Star Explosion, NASA
• To curious aliens, Earth would stand out as living planet, University of Florida
• MIT, others ask 'What would E.T. see?' Team analyzes how alien astronomers would study Earth, MIT
• International group plans strategy for Mars sample return mission, ESA

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• Astrobiological Effects of F, G, K and M Main-Sequence Stars, astro-ph
• Orbital Stability of Earth-Type Planets in Binary Systems, astro-ph
• Habitability of Super-Earths: Gliese 581c and 581d, astro-ph
• Formation and transformation of the 3:1 mean-motion resonance in 55 Cancri System, astro-ph
• Orbital Stability of Planets in Binary Systems: A New Look at Old Results, astro-ph
• Jupiter and Super-Earth embedded in a gaseous disc, astro-ph

Posted by Keith Cowing at 12:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

• Two more active moons around Saturn - Tethys and Dione, ESA
• Expanding and Improving the Search for Habitable Worlds, astro-ph
• Adaptive Scheduling Algorithms for Planet Searches, astro-ph

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• Spitzer IRS Observations of Class I/II Objects in Taurus: Composition, Temperature and Thermal History of the Circumstellar Ices, astro-ph
• Habitable Planet Formation in Extreme Planetary Systems: Systems with Multiple Stars and/or Multiple Planets, astro-ph
• The composition of transiting giant extrasolar planets, astro-ph
• A Possible Spin-Orbit Misalignment in the Transiting Eccentric Planet HD 17156b, astro-ph

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• On Signatures of Atmospheric Features in Thermal Phase Curves of Hot Jupiters, astro-ph The PSU/TCfA Search for Planets
• Around Evolved Stars: Bisector Analysis of Activity of a Sample of Red Giants, astro-ph
• The PennState/Toruń Center for Astronomy Search for Planets around Evolved Stars, astro-ph
• The PSU/TCfA Search for Planets Around Evolved Stars: Vsin(i) Measurements for Slow Rotating F-K Giants, astro-ph
• The PennState/Toruń Center for Astronomy Search for Planets Around Evolved Stars. Basic parameters of a sample of evolved stars, astro-ph
• A HET search for planets around evolved stars, astro-ph
• On the Solar System-Debris Disk Connecction, astro-ph
• The PSU/TCfA Search for Planets around Evolved Stars. Stellar parameters and activity indicators of targets, astro-ph

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This amendment announces new due dates and revisions to Appendix D.3 of ROSES-2007 entitled Astronomy and Physics Research and Analysis (APRA).
 
The proposal due dates for APRA have been changed to be several weeks earlier than previously announced. Notices of Intent to propose are now due February 15, 2008, and proposals are now due March 28, 2008.

The following changes have been made to the APRA program element text:

- Awards may be for up to four years duration (up to five years for suborbital investigations).

- Proposals for suborbital investigations are particularly encouraged. Suborbital investigations not only execute meritorious science investigations, but also advance the technology readiness of future space flight detectors and prepare the future leaders of space flight missions.

- Additional funding is available for suborbital investigations.

- The balloon program is providing a shared platform capable of carrying multiple, independent, piggyback-like instruments, in order to offer suborbital flight opportunities to more users.

- The special instructions for multiple institution proposals for suborbital investigations have been revised.

- Investigations for rapid searches for counterparts to Gamma-ray bursts are no longer eligible for support within the APRA program.
 
Proposers should read the revised text carefully.
 
On or about December 14, 2007, this Amendment to the NASA Research Announcement "Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES) 2007" (NNH07ZDA001N) will be posted on the NASA research opportunity homepage at http://nspires.nasaprs.com/ (select Solicitations then Open Solicitations then NNH07ZDA001N). 
 
Further information about this program element is available from Dr. Wilton T. Sanders, Astrophysics Division, Science Mission Directorate, NASA, Washington, DC 20546-0001; Telephone: (202) 358-1319; E-mail: Wilton.T.Sanders@nasa.gov.

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Since we cannot put stars in a laboratory, astrophysicists had to wait till the invention of computers before becoming laboratory scientists. For half a century now, we have been conducting experiments in our virtual laboratories. However, we ourselves have remained behind the keyboard, with the screen of the monitor separating us from the world we are simulating. Recently, 3D on-line technology, developed first for games but now deployed in virtual worlds like Second Life, is beginning to make it possible for astrophysicists to enter their virtual labs themselves, in virtual form as avatars. This has several advantages, from new possibilities to explore the results of the simulations to a shared presence in a virtual lab with remote collaborators on different continents.

Piet Hut (IAS, Princeton) Comments: 10 pages, 2 figures, Conference proceedings for IAUS246 'Dynamical Evolution of Dense Stellar Systems', ed. E. Vesperini (Chief Editor), M. Giersz, A. Sills, Capri, Sept. 2007 Subjects: Astrophysics (astro-ph)

Full story

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In April, a European team of astronomers announced in Astronomy & Astrophysics the discovery of two possibly habitable Earth-like planets. A&A is now publishing two independent, detailed studies of this system, which confirm that one of the planets might indeed be located within the habitable zone around the star Gliese 581.

Full story

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• Antarctic sub to test waters for Jupiter moon mission, New Scientist
• Martian Building Blocks, Astrobiology Magazine

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NAI is sponsoring the workshop Cyanobacteria in the Lunar Environment" at NASA Ames Research Center from January 28-30, 2008. It will bring together microbiologists, planetary scientists, and experts in flight experiments and hardware to assess the value and feasibility of studying cyanobacteria in space environments. Cyanobacteria are of great interest as model microorganisms to space programs because of their antiquity on earth, metabolic diversity, resilience to adverse conditions, ability to efficiently produce oxygen and hydrogen, and the existence of advanced capabilities for their genetic manipulation. Furthermore, cyanobacteria have considerable potential value for in-situ resource utilization and life support technologies.

The workshop is aimed at generating a well-informed, systematic research program to address survival, acclimation, adaptation and utilization of cyanobacteria in space environments. Such a program will be planned within the context of current or nearfuture experimental and exploration capabilities using ground, satellite, and lunar platforms. For more information contact Andrew Pohorille (Andrew.Pohorille@nasa.gov).

Posted by Keith Cowing at 12:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Oceans and Life on Planets: Remote Exploration of Seafloor Microbial Activities

In the spirit of the interdisciplinary nature of astrobiology, the course is open to graduate students in oceanography and/or microbiology, as well as to other graduate students in science and engineering who wish to pursue an intensive learning experience. Deadline for applications: 31 January 2008.

Brief description:

An exciting aspect of Astrobiology for oceanographers and marine biologists is that other oceans exist in our solar system, at present (as on Europa, a moon of Jupiter) and in the past (as on Mars). The course is thus designed to take knowledge of marine biology on this planet - especially marine microbiology in environments defined by strong chemical and/or thermal gradients - and extend it beyond Earth. The first goal is to explore, via classroom lectures, readings, discussion and debate, the relationships between (a) microbial life as we know it, particularly across marine gradients, (b) the early and contemporary ocean on Earth, (c) past and present oceans on other planets and moons, and (d) the possibilities for life in the environmental gradients inherent to those extraterrestrial oceans. The second goal is to give students direct experience in controlling and gathering data from state-of-the-art robots operating in real-time on the floors of Puget Sound and the Baltic Sea; this type of remote exploration is not unlike that of planetary missions controlled from Earth.

http://depts.washington.edu/fhl/studentClasslist2008.html#SumB-3 - full course description

http://depts.washington.edu/fhl/studentApplicationInfo.html - application form

http://depts.washington.edu/fhl/genIntro.html - general information on the Labs

[source: NAI Newsletter]

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Researchers from NAI's University of Hawai'i Team have a new paper in The Astronomical Journal describing a major survey of visual binaries toward the Orion Nebula Cluster. The team used images obtained with the Advanced Camera for Surveys on the Hubble Space Telescope through an H filter. Among 781 stars that fulfill the criteria for membership in the Orion Nebula Cluster, the group found 78 multiple systems (75 binaries and 3 triples), of which 55 are new discoveries.

[source: NAI Newsletter]

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This two-year position is jointly funded by the NASA Astrobiology Institute's Virtual Planetary Laboratory (VPL) and the Astrobiology Program (AP) at the University of Washington (UW) in Seattle. The Virtual Planetary Laboratory, based at the University of Washington (http://vpl.astro.washington.edu), is an interdisciplinary research team of 40 members at 22 institutions. The VPL team undertakes interdisciplinary modeling research on the formation of habitable planets; their interaction with their parent star; the environments of the Early Earth; the plausible range of habitable extrasolar terrestrial environments; and the nature and detectability of remotely-sensed biosignatures.

The UW Astrobiology Program (http://depts.washington.edu/astrobio) provides an interdisciplinary graduate education program in which students from participating departments work for a Graduate Certificate of Astrobiology in addition to a Ph.D from their home department. The UW-AP includes faculty from the Aeronautics & Astronautics, Astronomy, Atmospheric Sciences, Earth & Space Sciences, History (of Science), Microbiology, and Oceanography Departments (web sites can be accessed via http://www.washington.edu/home/departments/departments.html). UW-AP faculty are active in the following research areas (and many others): comets and interplanetary dust; extrasolar planets; solar system dynamics; planetary atmospheres, magnetospheres and interiors; life and environments on the early Earth; microbial phylogenetic studies; Phanerozoic mass extinctions; extremophile microorganisms; deep sea hydrothermal vents; and broader cultural implications of the field.
The successful applicant will (a) conduct a research program that fits within the broad scientific goals of both the VPL and AP efforts, and (b) contribute directly to the astrobiology graduate education program each year by, for example, teaching a course or seminar, running a workshop or field trip, or developing the curriculum. They will conduct research with one or more members of both the VPL and AP, thus linking researchers across these two programs.

The successful applicant will have received a Ph.D. by the time of assuming this position, and will have a demonstrated commitment to interdisciplinary research and education. The position is intended to begin as soon as possible, but no later than September 2008. Please submit a curriculum vitae; a statement of proposed research, and its links to VPL and AP research areas; the names of the VPL and AP member(s) with whom you wish to work; a statement of proposed contributions to the education program; two reprints or preprints (or online access information) that best show your research in astrobiology; and the names and contact information (e-mail, tel.) of three persons from whom you have already requested letters of recommendation. Send this material to:

Prof. Victoria Meadows
Astrobiology Postdoc Search Committee
Department of Astronomy Box 351580
University of Washington
Seattle, WA 98195-1580 USA
tel. 206-543-0206
fax 206-685-0403
vsm@astro.washington.edu

Priority will be given to applications and letters of recommendation received by 31 January 2008.

[source: NAI Newsletter]

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In response to recommendations from the NASA Advisory Council's Planetary Science Subcommittee and to findings from the Venus Exploration Analysis Group (VEXAG), during 2008 NASA will be conducting mission architecture studies for accomplishing Decadal Survey science objectives for Venus. NASA is forming a Science and Technology Definition Team (STDT) for Venus that will work directly with engineers and mission formulation experts.

The combined team of scientists, engineers, and technologists will determine and prioritize science objectives, mission architectures, technical challenges, cost estimates, and other mission elements for Venus exploration . NASA requests letters of interest from members of the science community who would like to participate on the Venus STDT.

To indicate interest, send an email to Adriana Ocampo (aco@nasa.gov) containing (a) a one page description of your areas of expertise and possible contribution to the STDT and (b) an abbreviated CV with emphasis on relevant experience. The Venus STDT will conclude its work by September 30, 2008.
Letters of interest must be received by email no later than December 15, 2007 (12:00 noon EST) to be considered. For further information, please contact Dr. Adriana Ocampo, Planetary Science Division, Science Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters. (202) 358-2152; aco@nasa.gov.

[source: NAI Newsletter]

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Spaceward Bound is an educational program designed to train the next generation of space explorers. Students participate in the exploration of scientifically interesting but remote and extreme environments on Earth as analogs for human exploration of the moon and Mars.

The student program enables students at the upper-undergraduate and graduate levels to participate as crew members in two-week-long immersive, full-scale simulations of living and working on the moon and Mars at the Mars Desert Research Station. The Spaceward Bound crew rotations at MDRS take place from October to March each year. They are currently planned through 2010.

Applications for these expeditions are available through The Mars Society, which established and operates the Research Station. Each Spaceward Bound MDRS participant receives a $500 stipend toward travel expenses.

For more information, visit http://quest.nasa.gov/projects/spacewardbound/mdrs.html.

Register Today for IPY/NSTA Web Seminars - Arctic and Antarctic Living Systems

Join NASA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National Science Foundation and the National Science Teachers Association for three, free Web seminars on the topic of the International Polar Year. Designed for educators of grades 5-8, the seminars will focus on land and marine adaptations to extreme conditions, species migration, and the role of humans in polar ecosystems.

The presenters will share their expertise, answer questions from the participants and provide information regarding Web sites that students can use in the classroom.

The Web seminars are 90-minute, live professional development sessions that use online learning technologies to allow participants to interact with nat ionally acclaimed experts, scientists, engineers and education specialists funded by NASA, NOAA and NSF. Each Web seminar is a unique, stand-alone program. Archives of the Web seminars and the presenters presentations will be available online.

The Web seminars in this series are scheduled for Dec. 30, 2007, Jan. 17 and Jan. 24, 2008. Each seminar will begin at 6:30 p.m. EDT.

Online registration for each is now open. http://learningcenter.nsta.org/products/symposia_seminars/fall07/IPY_Birmingham/webseminar.aspx

Posted by Keith Cowing at 10:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

NASA intends to release a Cooperative Agreement Notice (CAN, Cycle-5) soliciting new institutional members to the NASA Astrobiology Institute (NAI). The CAN will be released early in 2008, and proposals will be due approximately 90 days later.

NAI CAN Cycle-5 is responsive to the recommendations of the recent NRC study (Assessment of the NASA Astrobiology Institute, 2007, http://www7.nationalacademies.org/ssb/). Proposals will be required to clearly articulate an innovative, interdisciplinary, astrobiology research program, together with plans to advance the full scope of NAI objectives as defined in the Institute's Mission Statement (see NAI website: http://nai.nasa.gov/). NASA anticipates making $4-11M per year available for this selection, leading to 4-8 awards, each of 5 years duration. Participation in this solicitation is open to all categories of organizations, domestic and non-U.S., including industry, educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, NASA centers, and other Government agencies.

For further information please contact: Dr. Carl Pilcher, Director, NASA Astrobiology Institute, Mail Stop 247-6, Ames Research Center, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Moffett Field, CA 94035-1000; Phone: 650-604-0022; E-mail: can5@nasa.gov.

Posted by Keith Cowing at 10:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This amendment announces a proposal opportunity in Appendix C.20 of ROSES-2007 entitled "Astrobiology Science and Technology for Exploring Planets" (ASTEP).

This program element solicits proposals for investigations focused on exploring the Earth's extreme environments in order to develop a sound technical and scientific basis to conduct astrobiological research on other solar system bodies. The ASTEP program is a science-driven exploration program that is expected to result in new science and operational/technological capabilities to enable the next generation of planetary exploration. A unique feature that is central to the ASTEP program is the use of terrestrial (Earth-based; not necessarily nonaquatic) field campaigns to further science and technology and NASA's exploration capabilities.

Notices of Intent to propose are due January 18, 2008, and proposals are due March 18, 2008.

Table 2 and Table 3 of the Summary of Solicitation for this NRA have been updated to reflect this change.

On or about December 13, 2007, this Amendment to the NASA Research Announcement "Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES) 2007" (NNH07ZDA001N) will be posted on the NASA research opportunity homepage at http://nspires.nasaprs.com/ (select "Solicitations" then "Open Solicitations" then "NNH07ZDA001N").

Further information about this program element is available from Dr. John D. Rummel, Planetary Science Division, Science Mission Directorate, NASA, Washington, DC 20546-0001; Telephone: (202) 358-0702; E-mail: John.D.Rummel@nasa.gov.

Posted by Keith Cowing at 10:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

UCLA has launched an initiative to grow the Geosciences under the theme "Surface envelopes of Earth and planets: Processes and interactions" (see EOS, November 27, p. 534). The Department of Earth and Space Sciences and the Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics seek a talented and creative scientist with experience and interests in research and teaching in one or more of the biogeosciences (geobiology, geomicrobiology, paleobiology, astrobiology, biogeochemistry) for appointment as an Assistant or Associate Professor.

An ability to bridge disciplines and to collaborate with scientists in other fields is an important requirement. The successful applicant will have completed a doctoral degree and have begun to establish a career through the publication of outstanding research.

To apply, send a letter of application (refer to tracking number 0995-0708-02), a short statement relating to this position, a curriculum vitae, a list of four potential referees, and copies of three publications to Faculty_Positions@igpp.ucla.edu or Faculty Positions, Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1567, U.S.A. Electronic submissions are preferred. Selection will commence on December 17, 2007.

[source: NAI Newsletter]

Posted by Keith Cowing at 11:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

ROSES-07 Amendment 28: This amendment reinstates a previously deferred program element in Appendix C.19 of ROSES-2007 now entitled "Astrobiology Science and Technology Instrument Development, including Concept Studies for Small Payloads and Satellites" (ASTID).

This program element requests proposals to develop instrumentation capabilities to help meet Astrobiology science requirements on future space flight missions as well as unique Astrobiology science objectives on Earth. Selected activities are expected to advance the development of scientific instruments or instrument components to the point where the instruments could credibly be proposed in response to future flight opportunity announcements, including instruments that could be accommodated on or in small satellites (under 50kg total spacecraft mass) or as small payloads in support of future science activities associated with missions of human exploration. Note that proposals to build and fly hardware on a specific mission opportunity are not solicited in this program element. In addition, this program solicits the development of instruments for use in future field campaigns under the Astrobiology Science and Technology for Exploring Planets (ASTEP) Program.

This year, this program element is also soliciting mission-concept proposals for Astrobiology missions that may be considered within the scope of future opportunities to use small satellite systems (under 50kg mass) or that could support human exploration missions, but need further refinement prior to being considered under a future small satellite / payload mission solicitation. Only small satellite / small payload mission concept proposals will be accepted under ASTID this year.

Notices of Intent to propose are due December 14, 2007, and proposals are due February 15, 2008.

For more information: http://tinyurl.com/2vrjux

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