With the recent Planetary Science and Astrobiology Decadal Survey emphasizing a focus on extant life searches, it is critical to revisit and update our scientific investigations and datasets to more definitively interpret potential extant biology outside of our terrestrial biosphere.
The current framework for life detection for Mars exploration uses the ancient biosignatures paradigm where robust organics and former lacustrine environments provide assessments of habitability. This framework does not provide the science community with direct evidence of extant life potentially inhabiting these regions. This workshop will develop a new framework for biological validation for future missions with science driving the instrument development.
Watch Dr. Albert Haldemann (Mars Chief Engineer, ESA) as he shares information about the European Space Agency's Terrae Novae exploration programme, which includes missions to 3 destinations: low-Earth orbit, the Moon, and Mars for his talk "ESA's Vision for Mars Exploration".
This lecture was recorded on Thursday, May 11, 2023 at Chen 100 Lecture Hall at the California Institute of Technology.
Watch Video »Watch Professor Amanda Stockton from the Georgia Institute of Technology present her talk "Field Exploration and Life Detection Sampling through Planetary Analogue Research (FELDSPAR) – Lessons from rocky terrains and how they may translate to ice" .
This lecture was recorded on Wednesday, March 29, 2023 at Lees-Kubota Lecture Hall at the California Institute of Technology.
Watch Video »KISS Affiliates joined Dr. Leshin for an intimate discussion as she talked about her journey to becoming JPL’s 10th director and her vision for JPL moving forward.
Dr. Laurie Leshin, director of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory since May 2022, is a distinguished geochemist and space scientist with extensive leadership experience in academia and government, including senior NASA positions.
View »Watch Dr. Bruce Banerdt, InSight Principal Investigator, as he describes the InSight mission, its science goals and some of its outstanding scientific results.
This lecture was recorded on Wednesday, February 22, 2023 at Lees-Kubota Lecture Hall at the California Institute of Technology.
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