Astrophysical context of life / Committee on the Origins and Evolution of Life.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

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

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Astrophysics.

Cosmic physics.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (94 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Washington, D.C. : National Academies Press, 2005.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

In 1997, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) formed the National Astrobiology Institute to coordinate and fund research into the origins, distribution, and fate of life in the universe. A 2002 NRC study of that program, Life in the Universe: An Assessment of U.S. and International Programs in Astrobiology, raised a number of concerns about the Astrobiology program. In particular, it concluded that areas of astrophysics related to the astronomical environment in which life arose on earth were not well represented in the program. In response to that finding, the Space Studies Board requested the original study committee, the Committee on the Origins and Evolution of Life, to examine ways to augment and integrate astronomy and astrophysics into the Astrobiology program. This report presents the results of that study. It provides a review of the earlier report and related efforts, a detailed examination of the elements of the astrobiology program that would benefit from greater integration and augmentation of astronomy and astrophysics, and an assessment of ways to facilitate the integration of astronomy with other astrobiology disciplines.

Contents:

""Front Matter""; ""Preface""; ""Acknowledgment of Reviewers""; ""Contents""; ""Executive Summary""; ""1 Introduction""; ""2 Related Efforts""; ""3 NASA Efforts in Astrophysics for Astrobiology""; ""4 Areas That Could Benefit from Augmentation and Integration""; ""5 Integrating Astronomy with the Other Disciplines of Astrobiology""; ""Appendixes""; ""A Context and Statement of Task""; ""B Related Reports and Programmatic Activities""; ""C Glossary""; ""D Committee Member and Staff Biographies""

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

ISBN:

9786610208494

9780309181808

0309181801

9781280208492

128020849X

9780309551519

030955151X

OCLC:

923274473