Current Research Projects

P.I.: Mancinelli
Staff: Andersen, Landheim, Sawyer, Smernoff, Squire, White

The objectives of the research are to: 1) define the experimental parameters that are necessary to conduct autonomously a mineralogical analysis of the Martian surface in situ using differential thermal analysis coupled with gas chromatography (DTA/GC). The rationale in support of this objective is that proper interpretation of the mineralogical data from the DTA/GC can be used to better describe the present and past environments of Mars, leading to a better assessment of the probability of life evolving on Mars; and 2) better understand microbe-environment interactions by determining the response of microbes to changes in their environment, including extreme desiccation and solar UV-radiation. The rationale behind this is to develop hypotheses regarding what may have happened to life that may have arose on Mars, and microbial life that may get to the surface of Mars via spacecraft, or meteors from Earth The purpose of this research is to further our knowledge of exobiology and the evolution of life by identifying key chemical and isotopic signatures of extinct life that can be incorporated into analytical flight experiments to Mars and to build on the foundation of information obtained by Viking explorations.

P.I.: Davidson
Staff: Jenkins, McDonald

The purpose of this research is to investigate the formation and evolution of stars and planetary systems and to assist in the development of a new airborne observatory called the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA).

P.I.: Marshall
Staff: Bratton, Do, Humphry, Nishioka, Sauke, Seward, Shao, Stratton

The purpose of this project is to conduct scientific and instrumentation research and development in order to assist in accomplishing the goals of the NASA Exobiology Program, in particular, to improve our understanding of how cosmic, solar system and planetary evolution have influenced the origin, evolution, and distribution of life and life-related molecules in the universe. The activities involve the research and technology development necessary for exobiology flight experiments in low earth orbit and solar system exploration missions.
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P.I.: Freund
Staff: Chan, Discipulo, Gupta, Jenniskens, Kato, Kumar

This research project includes four separate research tasks which have in common the use of Analytical Electron Microscopy (AEM) to elucidate the mineralogy, petrology, and mechanism of formation of a variety of materials. Research will include the elucidation of pre- and early solar system history through the study of extraterrestrial materials, including Interplanetary Dust Particles (IDPs) and Carbonaceous Chondrite meteorites. This project will investigate the relationship between carbonaceous material and inorganic mineral phases found in Carbonaceous Chondrites and Interplanetary Dust Particles using Analytical Micron Microscopy (AEM).

P.I.: Stan-Lotter
Staff: None

This research proposes to conduct experiments designed for the study of one of the key enzymes of cellular life. This enzyme, the ATP synthase, which conserves the energy from proton gradients across the membrane, has been found in remarkably similar versions in mitochondria, chloroplasts and eubacteria, which suggests its origin at an early stage of biological evolution. A membrane-bound ATPase from the extremely halophilic archaebacterium Halobacterium saccharovorum will be characterized on a molecular level. The archaebacteria are organisms which may have been subjected less to evolutionary pressures, and thus their molecular cell components may reflect closer relationships to those of the proposed "ukaryote" or common ancestor of extant life.

P.I.: Colgan
Staff: None

This research project proposes to investigate the formation and evolution of young stars, particularly as this relates to the production and abundances of elements heavier than helium. The study of these elements is applicable to the search for extraterrestrial intelligence, since it reflects on the probability that conditions for life can be found elsewhere in the universe. This project will examine the abundances of, and the processes responsible for, the radio and far-infrared emission in the vicinity of the center of the galaxy, and will also research the production and return of heavy elements to the interstellar medium in supernova explosions as exemplified by supernova SN 1987A. This study will be performed in collaboration with existing Institute personnel and personnel at NASA/Ames Research Center.

P.I.: Shen
Staff: Do, Shao, Zhou

The primary purpose of this research project is to synthesize and develop highly efficient, porous polymeric particles to be used in gas chromatographic analysis of low molecular weight chemicals, such as oxygen, nitrogen, argon, methane, ethane, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, water and others which may be present in cometary and planetary bodies. This research activity will be performed in collaboration with personnel at Ames Research Center and other research agencies in order to assist in accomplishing the goals of the NASA exobiology programs. Proposed research activities will also support the missions of NASA planetary entry probes in space exploration, atmospheric composition, aerosol and soil gas composition analyses. The results from these analyses will provide the information which is important to the research of chemical evolution, the origin of life, and biological evolution. In addition, NASA is in a very dynamic mode at this time. A massive effort is under way to revolutionize the technical approach to spacecraft and robotic exploration. The Discovery Program is the first incarnation of this new enterprise. Other programs following it include New Millennium, Micro-spacecraft, and Nanoinstruments. All of these enterprises have the paradigm of better, faster, cheaper in common. Clearly, the current technology for future space studies will not likely be viable. To meet this requirement for the next century, miniaturized instrument will be developed. Miniaturized GC column- detector, Pyrosensor, and other sensors will also be developed and tested.

P.I.: Klein
Staff: Acevedo, Embaye, Wiersema

The purpose of this grant is to engage in a variety of research activities in the field of exobiology, with particular reference to studies relevant to Mars. These studies will focus on, but not be limited to, such issues as the possible presence of organic compounds on Mars, and how to search for extant and extinct organisms on that planet, and evaluation of planetary protection measures to be implemented during planetary exploration missions. One major objective of this research is directed toward developing specific plans for experimentation on Mars in future missions; this will require not only laboratory investigations, but also intensive interaction with the scientific community in order to continuously update and evaluate research in this field. Through these activities, it is expected that significant corollary objectives will accrue: advancement of knowledge about the origin of life and other aspects of exobiology and the space sciences, training of students and young scientists to help foster the next generation of scientists in these fields, and development of new concepts for space-based instrumentation.

P.I.: Zent
Staff: Davis, Quinn

The goal of this project is to analyze the atmosphere of Mars and determine the duration of liquid water habitats on Mars, and to better understand the relationship between the physical and chemical evolution of the solar system and the appearance of life. These studies are also aimed at determining the potential for eventually establishing a Mars base for future exploration. Electrical fields and shock waves associated with lightning discharges can cause small but significant compositional changes in gas mixtures, however the magnitude of these changes depends on the amount of energy dissipated. Observations of other planets have shown that there is a great deal of lightning activity on other planets. This project will study the lightning distribution rate, its magnitude and the relationship between different planetary atmospheres and the areas where lightning occurs.

PI: A. Weber
Staff: E. Weber

Our overall goal is to identify the prebiotic processes that provided the energy and matter (monomers and polymers) needed for the origin of life. In this search we study chemical models of likely prebiotic processes to obtain information pertaining to the origin of life on the primitive Earth. We also study the energetics of metabolism to establish the general principles that govern biological energy flow. Aspects of energy flow that are predetermined by ahistorical chemical constraints probably apply to the origin of life, and to life throughout the Universe. Our current experimental studies examine how reduction-oxidation (redox) reactions could have been used to synthesize prebiotic polymers. Redox formation of prebiotic polymers is attractive because (a) redox reactions are not susceptible to chemical interference by water as are anhydride-driven polymerizations, and (b) redox reactions are the primary source of chemical energy of modern and probably primitive life. Our work stresses the reactions of sulfur-containing compounds because sulfur groups are reactive and could have participated in redox reactions and group transfer reactions during the origin of life before the appearance of powerful biocatalysts.

PI: Moore
Staff: none

This research encompasses several tasks, the common theme of which is the exploration of Mars and the elucidation of its climatic history through a better understanding of its sedimentology. The nature and history of the sediments on the floor of Hellas basin are being studied and the abundance and form of volatile cements in the polar terrain of Mars (and elsewhere) is being examined. Also, the composition of behavior of Martian brines (and evaporates) is being investigated in the laboratory.

PI: Summers
Staff: None

The work in this project addresses issues which are fundamental to understanding the origins of life and the origin of the early environment. In this research, the prinicpal investigator will study how reduced carbon and nitrogen compounds thought to be necessary for the formation of life may have been formed on an early Earth with a carbon dioxide/nitrogen atmosphere. This work focuses on verifying experimentally what processes occur and how important they are.

P.I.: Salama
Staff: Bernstein

The purpose of this research is to conduct laboratory and observational studies of organic interstellar, cometary, and planetary analogs. This research is to provide fundamental data on the building block elements intervening in star and solar system formation and evolution. As such, this project constitutes an effort towards the understanding of the origins of life in the universe.

P.I.: Jenkins
Staff: None

The goal of this project is to develop better techniques for analyzing radio occultation data, based on optimal signal processing methods, and to apply these techniques to occultation data sets obtained from the Magellan Orbiter and other spacecraft. Although the focus of the research will be to study the atmosphere of Venus, the techniques developed will be applicable to radio occultation experiments conducted at other planets. Specific objectives to be accomplished during the course of this project include (1) analyze and reduce data from four radio occultation experiments conducted with the Magellan spacecraft at Venus in December 1992, (2) compare the results of these four experiments with each other and with the results of three previous Magellan radio occultation experiments, (3) design limb-track maneuvers and Doppler frequency predictions for radio occultation experiments to be conducted with Magellan during the period of April through August 1994, (4) analyze data collected during the opportunities in 1994 to produce similar product data sets as for the 1992 experiments, and (5) coordinate near infrared observations of the night side of Venus in August 1994 for correlation with radio occultation data obtained at low latitudes during this period.

P.I.: Doyle
Staff: None

The goal of this project is to detect terrestrial-sized planets from the ground. This project will identify special targets (small mass eclipsing binaries), measure any photometric changes in brightness due to possible planetary transits, and cross-correlate the observations with planetary transit and/or eclipsing binary models to locate sub-noise signals. This will place the first observational constraints on terrestrial planet formation around main sequence stars.

P.I.: Stauduhar
Staff: None

NASA's High Resolution Microwave Survey (HRMS) Project, a radio search for intelligent extraterrestrial transmissions, has developed novel signal detection algorithms. The methods used to design detectors for weak structured signals may have other powerful applications. In the past, these methods have facilitated an increase in algorithm speed by a factor of 100 and in sensitivity by a factor of 10. This project seeks to (1) assess the sensitivity of current algorithms used in medical computer aided diagnosis of breast cancer; (2) compare the results with the performance of optimum detection models (matched filters); (3) construct a set of detection functions if the state-of-the-art is not optimal; (4) determine the performance of these functions on real cases. The current detection algorithms and medical test data will be supplied by the University of South Florida, while the SETI Institute and Ames Research Center will modify HRMS detection algorithms for medical applications.

P.I.: Paque
Staff: None

This project will examine experimental analogs of components in chondritic meteorites and make comparisons with the natural material. A major objective of this work is to examine the effects of the addition of foreign nuclei to experimental analogs, in an effort to duplicate the nucleation conditions of natural objects (e.g., the presence of Pt metal nuggets in CAIs). The answers obtained from examination of these experiments will aid in the interpretation of CAIs and chondrules an constrain the environment and location in the solar nebula where these objects formed. This work will be the basis for modeling the conditions and locales of planetary formation.

P.I.: Simpson
Staff: None

This project is a collaboration between SETI Institute personnel and researchers from NASA Ames Research Center to (1) study the abundance of elements heavier than helium (particularly carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, neon, silicon, sulfur, argon, and iron) in the gas clouds out of which young stars have recently formed, (2) study the composition of dust in these same clouds and in the interstellar medium between the earth and the clouds, (3) study the formation of dust by old red giant stars, and (4) investigate the effects of the extreme conditions of the Galactic Center (magnetic fields, high densities, relativistic particles) on regions of star formation. This research is relevant to the rate of formation of stars suitable for the development of intelligent life, though the production rate for stars as a function of mass, the availability of the elements used to make solid planets, and the abundance of the elements that make up the molecules of life.

P.I.: Cooper
Staff: None

This project focuses on two tasks relating to organic compounds found in the Murchison meteorite. Task One involves isotopic measurements of organic sulfonates and phosphonates found in Murchison. Task Two will focus on investigating possible formaldehyde condensation products identified in Murchison. Isotopic measurements will be used to show if these compounds are indigenous.

P.I.: Nishioka
Staff: Stratton

This project will use a two pronged approach researching capture of interplanetary dust particles to help answer questions of how cosmic, solar system, and planetary evolution have influenced the origin, evolution, and distribution of life and life-related molecules in the universe by emphasizing laboratory research, testing, and analysis, as well as analytical modeling using computer simulations to validate the empirical laboratory research results. Research will help determine the capture media's physical characteristics such as compressibility, thermal conductivity, clarity and capture performance for particle mass, velocity, penetration, etc. Research results will identify the necessary materials and methods to passively capture relatively intact uncontaminated interplanetary dust particles (IDP) and the extraction of them from the media for analysis. IDP capture media will be prepared and tested for their capture efficiency. Methods will be developed for extracting captured particles from the media, and the results of media and particle analyses interpreted.

P.I.: Marshall
Staff: Bratton, Keaten

Laboratory experiments and data analysis will be used to model contemporary conditions on the surface of Mars. Laboratory experiments will also be conducted to define methods of analyzing the surface materials of the planet; these experiments will assist in the definition of robotic space missions using roving scientific platforms. Our investigations are motivated by exobilogic concerns regarding detection of ancient evidence of hydrologicial surface conditions; this evidence has been modified in the present Martian phase of cold desertification and aeolian transportation.

P.I.: Sauke
Staff: Bratton, Humphry

The goal of this project is to define and carry out experiments to apply tunable diode laser technology to exobiological applications in molecular and isotopic analysis. The project aims to explore and develop the applicability of tunable diode lasers for exobiological application on space flight missions to the surface of Mars.

P.I.: Hubickyj
Staff: None

Understanding how our solar system formed can provide information on the efficacy of the creation of planetary systems. Observations available to investigators of the giant planets set compositional and temporal constraints that theoretical models must address. The research in this project will investigate the physical processes believed to have occurred during the evolution of the planets. In particular, a computer code that simulates planetary evolution will be used with parameters that are meant to model Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune, and Uranus.

P.I.: Race
Staff: None

With a proposed series of missions to Mars, planetary protection must include more than scientific and technical aspects of the mission. Before an official set of requirements can be established for a sample return mission, a variety of technical, legal, and political issues and public concerns must be evaluated. Included among these are (1) evaluation of public concerns about returning samples from Mars into Earth's environment; (2) legal considerations and responsibilities of regulatory agencies; (3) analysis of the likelihood of an indigenous biota on Mars; (4) effect of Martian oxidants on terrestrial life; (5) technology for aseptic transfer of sample canister s to Earth return vehicles; (6) technology for exterior sterilization of sample return vehicle; and (7) sample sealing and preservation technology to prevent movement of material in either direction. This project is an outgrowth of particular needs identified in research suggesting that social and non-scientific factors represent potentially significant impediments for future Mars mission, especially in areas involving planetary protection. With out careful attention and planning in the early stages of planetary protection activities, NASA will be ill prepared to deal with the many clientele and audience groups, the irregular timing of their informational needs, and the inevitable public interest and concern over risk management decisions associated with sample return missions.

PI: Jenkins
Staff: None

The goals of this project are to retrieve vertical profiles of temperature, pressure, density, and sulfuric acid vapor abundance from approximately 15 observations made with the Magellan spacecraft in 1994. These observations were made at a variety of northern and southern latitudes and should provide information on the dynamics of the Venus atmosphere. This should help to elucidate transport mechanisms between the lower atmosphere and the atmosphere within and above the clouds, and the dynamic mechanisms that support or contribute to the upper rotation of the Venus atmosphere.

PI: Marshall
Staff: Seward

The objective of this project is to experimentally investigate the possibility that wind-blown particles on Mars may be sufficiently self destructive to cause eventual cessation of all dune formation on the planet. Experimentation is required to resolve the current conflict between this theoretical prediction and actual observations of dunes on Mars.