NASA's twin robot geologists, the Mars Exploration Rovers, landed on Mars in January 2004. Their mission is to search for answers about the history of water on Mars. Image courtesy of NASA/JPL.

Research, education, and public outreach activities of the Center are aimed at the long-term questions and goals of astrobiology, namely: How do planetary processes give rise to life? How were planets formed? Are there habitable planetary bodies outside our Solar System? When and how did life appear on Earth and, possibly, Mars? What are the biological innovations that allow life to climb to complexity on planetary timescales?

In order to begin to answer these transdisciplinary questions, and explain them to others, special people and special tools are required.

Our program of research focuses on four themes:

(1) Extrasolar Planetary Systems
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(2) Habitability within the Solar System
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(3) Earth's Early Environment and Life
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(4) Evolution of Biological Complexity
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