Planetary Permafrost and Astrobiology

Co-chairs:

  • Dirk Wagner dirk.wagner@awi.de
  • Christopher McKay cmckay@arc.nasa.gov

Statement of Goals:

  • Investigate microbial activities and growth rates at in situ conditions (e.g.
  • subzero temperature) in ice and permafrost, including development of aseptic drilling techniques and sampling strategies
  • Conduct biological experiments in the outer space
  • Conduct measurements of long-lived radioisotopes and development of modelling of their radiation in permafrost
  • Interpret data obtained by space vehicles with regard to permafrost (e.g. morphology, living conditions, water)

Activities:

EGU General Assembly (2009), COSPAR (2010, Germany), Polar and Alpine Microbiology (2011, Slovenia), AGU Fall meeting (2011)
Liaison with SCDIC: Dirk Wagner
Liaison with international organizations and programs: European Astrobiology Network Association (EANA), NASA Astrobiology Institute (NAI), European Space Agency (ESA), Russian Space Agency, Virtual Exo/Astrobiology Institute