Final Frontier? The Evolution of Planetary Science Missions

Eos ◽

10.1029/2020eo150325 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 101 ◽

Author(s):

Katherine Broendel

Keyword(s):

Planetary Science ◽

Nasa Mission ◽

The Universe

Planetary scientist Fran Bagenal explains how each NASA mission builds on previous discoveries and encourages scientists to take on difficult challenges to learn more about our home in the universe.

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Diffuse Ultraviolet Background Radiation

International Astronomical Union Colloquium ◽

10.1017/s0252921100054567 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 171 ◽

pp. 357-364

Author(s):

Richard C. Henry

Keyword(s):

Dark Matter ◽

Surface Brightness ◽

Background Radiation ◽

Diffuse Radiation ◽

Upper Limit ◽

Nasa Mission ◽

Low Surface Brightness ◽

Diffuse Background ◽

The Universe

AbstractDiffuse ultraviolet background radiation may contain important information concerning the dark matter of the universe. I briefly review new Voyager observations of the diffuse background, which give a very low upper limit on the background radiation shortward of Lyman α, and I review the capabilities for detection and characterization of diffuse radiation that will be provided by a proposed new NASA mission. Low-surface-brightness radiation remains largely an unexplored frontier, particularly in the ultraviolet.

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Nuclear Planetary Science as a Tool to Study Life in the Universe

Advances in Planetary Science - Nuclear Planetary Science ◽

10.1142/9789813209718_0008 ◽

2017 ◽

pp. 135-139

Keyword(s):

Planetary Science ◽

The Universe

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Astrobiology (Overview)

Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Planetary Science ◽

10.1093/acrefore/9780190647926.013.1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Sean McMahon

Keyword(s):

Extrasolar Planets ◽

Scientific Explanation ◽

The United States ◽

Planetary Science ◽

Physical Sciences ◽

Extraterrestrial Life ◽

Late 20Th Century ◽

Robotic Exploration ◽

Life On Earth ◽

The Universe

Astrobiology seeks to understand the origin, evolution, distribution, and future of life in the universe and thus to integrate biology with planetary science, astronomy, cosmology, and the other physical sciences. The discipline emerged in the late 20th century, partly in response to the development of space exploration programs in the United States, Russia, and elsewhere. Many astrobiologists are now involved in the search for life on Mars, Europa, Enceladus, and beyond. However, research in astrobiology does not presume the existence of extraterrestrial life, for which there is no compelling evidence; indeed, it includes the study of life on Earth in its astronomical and cosmic context. Moreover, the absence of observed life from all other planetary bodies requires a scientific explanation, and suggests several hypotheses amenable to further observational, theoretical, and experimental investigation under the aegis of astrobiology. Despite the apparent uniqueness of Earth’s biosphere— the “n = 1 problem”—astrobiology is increasingly driven by large quantities of data. Such data have been provided by the robotic exploration of the Solar System, the first observations of extrasolar planets, laboratory experiments into prebiotic chemistry, spectroscopic measurements of organic molecules in extraterrestrial environments, analytical advances in the biogeochemistry and paleobiology of very ancient rocks, surveys of Earth’s microbial diversity and ecology, and experiments to delimit the capacity of organisms to survive and thrive in extreme conditions.

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