1. What Is Astrobiology And Why Do We Care? Bruce Jakosky Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics University of Colorado at Boulder 9 February 2010

2. Earth

9. Mars

21. Venus

24. Europa

28. Enceladus

30. Places that meet/met requirements for life Meet/met all requirements: –Earth –Mars –Europa Meet some/most requirements and may meet all of them: –Enceladus –Ganymede –Callisto –Titan May have met them in the past: –Venus –Io

31. Particularly Relevant Spacecraft Missions Ongoing –Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter –Spirit and Opportunity –Phoenix –Cassini –New Horizons –MESSENGER Upcoming –Mars Science Laboratory –MAVEN –JUNO Possible future missions –Outer Planet Flagship –Mars Sample Return –Comet sample return –Asteroid sample return –Lunar South Pole / Aitken Basin sample return

32. The MAVEN Spacecraft

33. Potential Importance of the Role of Loss to Space The history of liquid water and of the atmosphere determine Mars’ potential for life throughout time. There is abundant evidence for climate change and atmospheric evolution. Loss of atmospheric CO 2, N 2, and H 2 O to space has been an important mechanism for atmospheric evolution, and may have been the dominant mechanism. Only by understanding the role of escape to space will we be able to fully understand the history of the atmosphere, climate, and water, and thereby understand Martian habitability.

34. MAVEN Will Measure the Drivers, Reservoirs, and Escape Rates MAVEN will determine the present state of the upper atmosphere and today’s rates of loss to space. Essential measurements allow determination of the net integrated loss to space through time. Solar Input Neutral Processes Plasma Processes

35. Launch: November 18, 2013 Ten Month Ballistic Cruise to Mars Orbit Insertion: 16 Sept 2014 One Year of Science Operations MAVEN Mission Architecture

36. CU/LASP, GSFC, UCB/SSL, LM, JPL Launch Year MRO Mars Express Coop Mars Express Coop Odyssey MER 2013 2016 2018 & Beyond 2011 2009 Operational MAVEN Phoenix Mars Science Lab Trace Gas Orbiter NASA’s Mars Exploration Program

40. Why do we care?

41. Student perspectives on finding life elsewhere (1 of 2): Finding bacteria elsewhere would be scientifically interesting, but only finding extraterrestrial intelligence would be truly profound. It won’t make much difference to most people; their lives would go on pretty much as before. We should solve our own problems here on Earth before we even go looking for life elsewhere. Extraterrestrial intelligence will help us to save the world by solving all of our current problems. Extraterrestrial life will destroy our civilization, either by intent or by accident.

42. Student perspectives on finding life elsewhere (2 of 2): The existence of extraterrestrial life or intelligence would be inconsistent with the view of modern religions. Modern religions have dealt with scientific discoveries and societal changes in the past, and they probably can adapt to deal with a discovery of life elsewhere (if there’s even a conflict). We’ve already discovered extraterrestrial life and the government is hiding it, probably in a hangar in New Mexico. We may not have discovered it yet, but the government is covering up anyway.

43. Searching for life elsewhere: Mars sample return Europa surface and ocean Earth-like planets Extraterrestrial intelligence?