Target Study for NASA Planetary Bio-Indicator Lidar Instrument

We propose to develop an analytical new real-time technique of remote detection and discrimination of any bio-signatures dispersed in the ground-level planetary atmosphere, with or without the presence of solar optical background radiation but further technological development is required to modify the instrument for planetary environments. The work proposed here accomplishes the first step towards the development of a NASA Bio-Indicator Instrument using a low cost simulation approach. Capabilities of the first atmospheric bio-indicator survey instrument will dramatically increase the probability of finding the signatures of extraterrestrial life. This concept maturation project will lead to the validation of the instrument model of Bio-Indicator technology as the first step towards development of a novel Astrobiology instrument. In line with the NASA mission and vision statement and the innovative element of the proposed work is to significantly increase the probability of finding the bio-signatures of extraterrestrial life and to guide future NASA missions towards the discovery of life. Development of the Bio-Indicator Instrument shall be done at Goddard Space Flight Center. More »