Astrobiology at APL—On the Path to Discovery

Abstract

Astrobiology is an exciting field of science focused on understanding the origins, evolution, distribution, and future of life in the universe. NASA focuses much of its research and technology developments on astrobiology, and the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) is a major contributor through research, technology, and missions. Astrobiology efforts at APL range from constraining when life first emerged on Earth and researching biosignature (i.e., signals of past or present life) preservation, to developing instruments and missions aiming to detect biosignatures and characterize the capability of an extreme planetary environment to harbor and support life. Beginning with APL’s Compact Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometer for Mars (CRISM) on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO), which searches for past wet and potentially habitable regions on Mars, APL has continued to develop cutting-edge techniques and instruments to search for biosignatures, remotely and in situ. Additionally, APL is leading and serving as a key partner in several exciting NASA missions that will occur in the coming decades with habitability and biosignature detection goals. In this article, we summarize current efforts and look forward, over the coming 25 years, to the potential astrobiology exploration and discoveries that await.