Goal 1
Understand habitable planets in the Universe
Determine the potential for habitable planets in the Universe, and characterize those that are observable.
Planetary habitability is the ability of a planet or planetary satellite to continue to sustain life if life originates on the object, or to sustain life if living organisms are carried to the object. The word habitable is not necessarily associated with a single specific environment, but may be a suite of environments where material can be carried between them. The processes where crucial biologically useful chemicals are carried to a planet and change its level of habitability are considered as aspects of prebiotic chemistry and chemical evolution. A major long-range goal for astrobiology is to recognize habitability without recognition of the presence of life, or to recognize habitability through recognition of signs of the presence of life.
- Objective
1.1—Develop models of habitable
planet formation and evolution.Investigate how planets acquire
liquid water, and how planetary system processes affect their environments
and thereby sustain habitable conditions. Use theoretical and observational
studies of the formation and evolution of planetary systems and their
habitable zones to predict where water-dependent life is likely to be
found in such systems.
- Objective 1.2—Improve indirect and direct astronomical observations of extrasolar habitable planets. Support planning for indirect and direct detection of habitable planets by obtaining spectroscopic information for environments and biosignatures.