NASA’s Astrobiology Program

Astrobiologists at NASA use data from many NASA missions to study the possibility of life on other worlds. Here are a few ways they use data from other missions to support the NASA Astrobiology Program: 

Chandra X-ray Observatory  

Artist rendition of the Chandra telescope in orbit

The Chandra X-ray Observatory is a telescope that detects emission from extremely hot regions of space (exploded stars, galaxy clusters, etc.). Astrobiologists use data from Chandra to study the conditions of planetary system formation. This gives insight into the distribution of radiation and how that may contribute to the habitability of planets.

Habitable-Zone Planet Finder (HPF)

Telescopes at the McDonald Observatory at UT Austin

The HPF provides researchers with high-precision measurements of infrared signals from stars close to us. The HPF’s precision may help detect habitable planets near cool stars. This can help advance the astrobiology program’s goal of finding planets with climates/conditions that can sustain liquid water on their surfaces.

Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE)

Artist rendition of the JUICE mission

NASA partnered with the  European Space Agency (ESA) for the JUICE mission, collecting data on Jupiter and observing Ganymede, Callisto, and Europa. This will help astrobiologists study how habitable planets may form near jovian ones. Ganymede, Callisto, and Europa have become targets for astrobiologists to study because of the possibility that liquid water under their icy surfaces could be habitable for life.

TAGS: astro2110, astrobiology, blog7, nasa, space