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The Goddard Center for Astrobiology

Astrobiology

Two Columns

Research

Overview 09.29.2006

Stellar Space Cycle.

A modified HST image of NGC 3603 showing the life cycle of material (including carbon) in a star-forming region..

Did delivery of carbon-containing molecules and water to the early Earth enable the emergence and evolution of life? If so, how did it happen? What were the processes involved in the creation of such molecules? These are some of the driving questions behind the research that is performed at the Goddard Center for Astrobiology. Our scientists focus on various aspects of exogneous material s, from the formation of complex organic materials on ice grains to the delivery of those primordial materials to the Earth, starting in the early bombardment period and continuing until today. Our research includes four major themes, each focusing on a different aspect of the life cycle of a star.

The 1st Theme is focused on determining the chemical composition of icy bodies and establishing their potential for delivering pre-biotic organic materials and water to the young Earth and other planets.

The 2nd Theme is focused on investigating processes affecting the origin and evolution of organics in planetary systems.

The 3rd Theme conducts laboratory simulations of processes that likely affected the chemistry of material in natal interstellar cloud cores and in proto-planetary disks.

The 4th Theme is in the process of developing advanced methods for the in-situ analysis of complex organics in small bodies in the Solar System. For example, organic analysis protocols developed by Theme IV members are presently being incorporated into the Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) Suite Investigation of the Mars Science Laboratory.

 

Thesis by Boncho Bonev

"Towards a Chemical Taxonomy of Comets: Infrared Spectroscopic Methods for Quantitative Measurements of Cometary Water"

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