Policy – Page 4 – My WordPress Site

Variable Selection Network results. Panel a shows the average weights assigned by the variable selection network (model weights) for each input feature grouped by predicted humidity ranges. Panels b, c, d, and e, display the model weights of the top 4 input features. They also show how model weights vary with each respective feature values and predicted humidity. Circle sizes represent the number of samples present. -- astro-ph.EP

Astrobiology (general), Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Mars, Policy, Reports, Roadmaps, & Plans

NASA Search for Life Science Analysis Group (SFL-SAG) Seeks Members

by Keith CowingJune 7, 2024June 7, 2024

Orbital characterization of TOI-402 B around A using multiple datasets.

Microbiology & Virology, Missions & Hardware, Planetary Protection & Biosafety, Policy, Reports, Roadmaps, & Plans

Planetary Protection: Updates And Challenges For A Sustainable Space Exploration

by Keith CowingJune 3, 2024June 26, 2024

a cryoEM volume revealing a two-start (C2) helical filament with a pitch p and diameter of 94.6 Å and 260 Å, and a rise and twist of 3.18 Å and 12.1°, respectively; b local interaction network between neighboring cannula protofilaments in which subunits interlock through donor strand complementation along the axial (e.g., i → j → k) direction and partake in further intermolecular contacts mediated by calcium coordination along the axial and radial (e.g., j-1→j → j + 1) direction; c stick representation of three types of calcium pockets: (i) axial stacking of subunits via type I and II calcium binding centers, (ii) radial contacts are mediated via type III Ca2+ binding sites; d raw cryoEM image of a cannulae filaments loaded with a helically winding thinner filament (2 nm; cargo). White arrows denote winding cargo and dangling cargo associated with the cannulae filaments; e surface electrostatics showing a predominantly negatively charged surface and a positively charged lumen for the cannula model. The representative image in this figure (d) is derived from a total of 2365 cryo-EM movies from two technical replicates.-- Nature Communications

Planetary Protection & Biosafety, Policy, Reports, Roadmaps, & Plans

Assessment of the Report of NASA's Planetary Protection Independent Review Board

by Keith CowingMay 8, 2020June 26, 2024

Figure 3b shows key word frequency over time. Like co-occurrence network map, the term Extremophiles with the highest increase, reaches a cumulative frequency by 2023. As the second most frequently used term, Astrobiology is a trend topic. The term ‘habitability’ is another popular keyword that has increased over the years. Mars is frequently associated with extremophile habitability studies. The term ‘Biological Signatures’ is also on the rise.-- International Journal of Astrobiology

Habitable Zones, Missions & Hardware, Planetary Protection & Biosafety, Policy, Reports, Roadmaps, & Plans, Sample Return

NASA’s Planetary Protection Review Addresses Changing Reality of Space Exploration

by Keith CowingOctober 18, 2019June 26, 2024

An Astrobiology Strategy for the Search for Life in the Universe

Astrobiology (general), Astrochemistry, Astrogeology, Astronomy & Telescopes, Missions & Hardware, NASA Astrobiology Program, Policy, Reports, Roadmaps, & Plans

Report: An Astrobiology Strategy for the Search for Life in the Universe

by Keith CowingMarch 20, 2019August 16, 2025

Results for our simulated atmospheric retrieval of an Earth-like planet using petitRADTRANS, LIFEsim, and PyMultiNest. Left: The retrieved PT profiles for the polynomial baseline and our model, together with the emission contribution function. Right: The relative fitting error of the spectrum, computed as (true spectrum − simulated spectrum) / true spectrum. -- astro-ph.IM

Astrobiology (general), Policy

Comments Transcript: NASA Planetary Science Division Research and Analysis Program Restructuring Virtual Town Hall

by Keith CowingDecember 4, 2013June 23, 2024

The European Space Agency’s Mars Express orbiter captured this view of Mars’ south polar ice cap Feb. 25, 2015. Three years later, the spacecraft detected a signal from the area to the right of the ice cap that scientists interpreted as an underground lake. Credit: ESA/DLR/FU Berlin, CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO

Missions & Hardware, Panspermia, Planetary Protection & Biosafety, Policy, Sample Return

NASA Policy Instruction NASA Policy on Planetary Protection Requirements for Human Extraterrestrial Missions – NPI 8020.7 – NPD 8020.7G

by Keith CowingMarch 8, 2013June 23, 2024

Vision and Voyages for Planetary Science in the Decade 2013-2022

Astrobiology (general), Astrochemistry, Astrogeology, Astronomy & Telescopes, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Policy, Reports, Roadmaps, & Plans

Report: Vision and Voyages for Planetary Science in the Decade 2013-2022 (2011)

by Keith CowingMarch 22, 2011August 16, 2025

Concentrations are shown in µg/kg. Black circles represent seawater sampling locations; red stars denote the shoreline position of microbialite sampling transects (coordinates listed in Supplementary Table 3). Black lines represent boundaries of provinces in Hamelin Pool as previously defined32. The map is overlaid on Copernicus Sentinel data (2025) accessed via Copernicus Browser (CC BY 4.0). -- Nature Communications

Astrobiology (general), NASA Astrobiology Program, Policy, Reports, Roadmaps, & Plans

NASA Astrobiology Institute Director’s Corner May 2007

by Keith CowingMay 30, 2007June 23, 2024

Concentrations are shown in µg/kg. Black circles represent seawater sampling locations; red stars denote the shoreline position of microbialite sampling transects (coordinates listed in Supplementary Table 3). Black lines represent boundaries of provinces in Hamelin Pool as previously defined32. The map is overlaid on Copernicus Sentinel data (2025) accessed via Copernicus Browser (CC BY 4.0). -- Nature Communications

Astrobiology (general), NASA Astrobiology Program, Policy, Reports, Roadmaps, & Plans

NASA Astrobiology Institute Director’s Corner 13 February 2007

by Keith CowingFebruary 13, 2007June 23, 2024