Getting the Answers: Technologies

Four workshops addressed the question of technologies available and needed for Astrobiology investigations on earth and in space: the Mars Deep Water Sounding Workshop, Mars Deep Drilling Workshop, Piggyback Missions for Astrobiology Workshop and the Advanced Measurement Sensors Workshop. A summary of the top findings are presented below:

Today’s technological state of the art is sophisticated enough to enable the development of a wide array of instruments or suite of instruments needed for critical astrobiology measurements for most of the missions identified above. However, very few are actually ready for flight.

Embrace miniaturization. The following either have been or can be developed for specific mission use.

Sensors: Thousands of sensors exist -- from fingernail sized to matchbook sized -- that can be used for a wide range of measurements including pH, chemical composition and concentration, temperature, pressure, partial pressure, gravity, acceleration, elemental abundances, spectral characteristics, etc. Most have been developed for non-space applications, so they need to be tailored and adapted for astrobiology. In order to take advantage of the exceptional mission opportunities presented over the next decade, it is important to start now to enable utilization of these technologies in 2-3 year time frame. Astrobiology developments should consider sensor arrays and groups, to obtain data from multiple parameters simultaneously. The critical problem is in getting the sample to the sensor, and all handling/management issues therein.

Chemical laboratories that enable multiple and even sequential analyses of a single sample can fit on a compact disk. Other techniques and methods of doing these analyses exist at generally the same level of readiness (pre-commercial product).

Mass spectrometers, ion mobility spectrometers, gas chromatographs, imaging systems in wavelengths spanning gamma ray through infrared are available within a soda can to shoebox volume. These can be miniaturized further.

Concepts for cell and microbial culture and preservation facilities suitable for early Space Station were identified that could fit within the volume of a hockey puck. However, these need to be developed and flight qualified.

Development of sample management systems is urgently needed. A critical finding is that state of the art of sample management--sample acquisition, preparation, distribution, and preservation--is seriously deficient and precludes the use of the vast array of capabilities available in miniaturized analytical instrumentation. This is a common problem--in DARPA and in the biotech community as well as in NASA. It is recommended that the next technology NRA specifically address this problem.

Autonomous or remotely operated biolabs in situ (AROBIS) is recommended for research in hydrothermal vents, subterranean systems, deep drilling, planetary bodies. These should combine intelligent mechanism, robotics, and measurement technologies for a true multidisciplinary effort.

Hyperspectral imaging and analysis systems for remote (mid-range) and in situ studies of planetary bodies is recommended for development. Applications of these technologies would preserve spatial features with associated chemical and environmental data to enable selections among in situ examination strategies based on real time analysis. Specific instrument and algorithm development is needed to coordinate imaging and environmental data; build in the capacity to analyze information per pixel; apply adaptive analytical techniques; and harden for planetary exploration. DARPA/industry partnership opportunities are excellent.

Technologies that enable evolutionary biology studies and organism/environment interface characterization are recommended for Space Station. These technologies would enable the first definitive qualitative and quantitative molecular biology examinations of a wide range of terrestrial species, characterization of terrestrial evolution beyond Earth, and examination of co-evolution of life and the environment issues.

Direct microscopic imaging capability is recommended. Remote or autonomous operation of imaging systems in wide range of spectra, resolution, and amplification would provide a powerful new tool for in situ examination of planetary bodies. These systems should include intelligent analysis for autonomous operation that meet low bandwidth constraints.

Gas/Grain Simulation capability is recommended for Space Station--to investigate the role of gravity in prebiotic chemistry, comet chemistry, aerosol chemistry, low gravity chemistry (Mars, Europa), and chemistry of interstellar medium.

Inventive mobility systems for Mars exploration must be developed. New means of exploring Mars, including active sounding, deep drilling, balloons, airplanes, refuelable hoppers, and other devices which can provide greater terrain coverage with higher resolution imaging, were highly recommended. Not only would these be exciting to the public, they would significantly increase general science return and site selection for life detection. The strategy of orbital coverage, airborne approaches, and ground truth is as important for Mars exploration as it is for Earth studies.

Produce an inventory of flight-ready payload components for Astrobiology. Certain devices are important in Astrobiology and would be instruments of choice for many different missions (e.g., comets, Mars, Europa). A selected few of these should be identified, prioritized, developed to a flight ready status, and duplicated for multiple use so that development funds can be spent on new products.

Provide instrument suites for exploring the Astrobiology of planetary bodies. Examining an environment like Mars, Europa, or comets for life or life’s precursors requires a suite of instruments. Specific chemical species of interest (e.g., chirality, long chain carbon molecules [N>7 carbons], polyanions, polycations, changes in gas species, nitrogenous compounds) are only meaningful when characterized against the background environment of elemental abundances, temperature, pH, changes in climate history as seen in core samples, etc. Identifying the highest priority instruments and suites of interest and developing them to flight readiness is strongly urged.