Life in the universe : an assessment of U.S. and international programs in astrobiology / Committee on the Origins and Evolution of Life, Space Studies Board, Board on Life Sciences, National Research Council.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

National Research Council (U.S.). Committee on the Origins and Evolution of Life.

National Research Council (U.S.). Space Studies Board.

National Research Council (U.S.). Board on Life Sciences.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Life--Origin.

Life.

Exobiology.

Life on other planets.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (62 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Other Title:

Assessment of U.S. and International programs in astrobiology

Place of Publication:

Washington, D.C. : National Academies Press, c2003.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

The past decade has seen a remarkable revolution in genomic research, the discoveries of extreme environments in which organisms can live and even flourish on Earth, the identification of past and possibly present liquid-water environments in our solar system, and the detection of planets around other stars. Together these accomplishments bring us much closer to understanding the origin of life, its evolution and diversification on Earth, and its occurrence and distribution in the cosmos. A new multidisciplinary program called Astrobiology was initiated in 1997 by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to foster such research and to make available additional resources for individual and consortium-based efforts. Other agencies have also begun new programs to address the origin, evolution, and cosmic distribution of life. Five years into the Astrobiology program, it is appropriate to assess the scientific and programmatic impacts of these initiatives. Edward J. Weiler, NASA's associate administrator for the Office of Space Science, tasked the Committee on the Origins and Evolution of Life (COEL) with assessing the state of NASA's Astrobiology program.

Contents:

Front Matter

Preface

Contents

Executive Summary

1 The Roadmaps

2 The Structure of the NASA Astrobiology Program

3 Toward More Interaction Between the NASA Astrobiology Institute and the Planetary and Astronomical Sciences

4 The Roles of Other Federal Agencies with Respect to Astrobiology

5 International Partners

6 SETI and Astrobiology

7 Conclusion.

Notes:

Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN:

9786610209279

9780309169264

0309169267

9781280209277

1280209275

9780309512602

0309512603

OCLC:

559462611