###### **Focus Group** 

###### **Annual Report**

# NAI Year 4

**July 1, 2001 through June 30, 2002**

####### Name of Focus Group:

####### Focus Group Chair(s): 

## Objectives

Indicate all of the Astrobiology Roadmap Objectives associated with this
Focus Group.

+------------------------------------+---------------------------------+
| 1\. Sources of Organics on Earth   | 10\. Natural Migration of Life  |
+------------------------------------+---------------------------------+
| 2\. Origin of Life's Cellular      | 11\. Origin of Habitable        |
| Components                         | Planets                         |
+------------------------------------+---------------------------------+
| 3\. Models for Life                | 12\. Effects of Climate &       |
|                                    | Geology on                      |
|                                    |                                 |
|                                    | Habitability                    |
+------------------------------------+---------------------------------+
| 4\. Genomic Clues to Evolution     | 13\. Extrasolar Biomarkers      |
+------------------------------------+---------------------------------+
| 5\. Linking Planetary & Biological | 14\. Ecosystem Response to      |
| Evolution                          | Rapid                           |
|                                    |                                 |
|                                    | Environmental Change            |
+------------------------------------+---------------------------------+
| 6\. Microbial Ecology              | 15\. Earth's Future             |
|                                    | Habitability                    |
+------------------------------------+---------------------------------+
| 7\. Extremes of Life               | 16\. Bringing Life with Us      |
|                                    | Beyond Earth                    |
+------------------------------------+---------------------------------+
| 8\. Past and Present Life on Mars  | 17\. Planetary Protection       |
+------------------------------------+---------------------------------+
| 9\. Life's Precursors & Habitats   | Currently, this activity does   |
| in the Outer                       | not fit one                     |
|                                    |                                 |
| Solar System                       | of these categories.            |
+------------------------------------+---------------------------------+

**DETAILED TEXT DESCRIPTIONS OF THESE OBJECTIVES** are found on the NASA
Ames Research Center Astrobiology website:
<http://astrobiology.arc.nasa.gov/>

On this website home page in the **LEFT MARGIN**, click on "Roadmap" to
find details on the Astrobiology Roadmap Objectives.

## Focus Group Participants

### Provide information (in form below) about participants in this Focus Group.

NOTE: Names here will be included in these listings:

NAI Annual Report

Focus Group e-mail distribution

## 

+-------------------+------------------+-------+----------------------+
| ## Name           | ## Instituti     | **    | ## E-Mail Address    |
|                   | onal Affiliation | NAI** |                      |
|                   |                  |       |                      |
|                   |                  | *     |                      |
|                   |                  | *Memb |                      |
|                   |                  | er?** |                      |
|                   |                  |       |                      |
|                   |                  | **Yes |                      |
|                   |                  | or    |                      |
|                   |                  | No**  |                      |
+===================+==================+=======+======================+
| ##                | ##               |       | ##                   |
+-------------------+------------------+-------+----------------------+
| ##                | ##               | ##    | ##                   |
+-------------------+------------------+-------+----------------------+
| ##                | ##               | ##    | ##                   |
+-------------------+------------------+-------+----------------------+
| ##                | ##               | ##    | ##                   |
+-------------------+------------------+-------+----------------------+
| ##                | ##               | ##    | ##                   |
+-------------------+------------------+-------+----------------------+
| ##                | ##               |       | ##                   |
+-------------------+------------------+-------+----------------------+
| ##                | ##               | ##    | ##                   |
+-------------------+------------------+-------+----------------------+
| ##                | ##               | ##    | ##                   |
+-------------------+------------------+-------+----------------------+
| ##                | ##               | ##    | ##                   |
+-------------------+------------------+-------+----------------------+
| ##                | ##               | ##    | ##                   |
+-------------------+------------------+-------+----------------------+
| ##                | ##               | ##    | ##                   |
+-------------------+------------------+-------+----------------------+

Executive Summary

PURPOSE

This part of the report will be used as an overview of the Focus Group's
work. It may be published in print form with the rest of the report
attached in electronic format. Content is more likely to be viewed by
those at NASA Headquarters and interested general public, and should be
written in a style that a non-technical reader can understand.

CONTENT \-\-\-\-- Up to 1000 words (\~2 pages)

In the style of a review article, provide an overview of your Focus
Group's work. Include a general background description of its purpose
and research, its connections to the overall field of astrobiology, a
summary of the research and activities, and highlighted accomplishments
for this year. Include at least one figure or image with captions. Do
not use bullets or acronyms (without spelling them out). The final
product should be in the style of a review article, written in complete
sentences, proofread, and submitted as if to a major journal for
publication.

## Focus Group Description & Activities

**Describe your Focus Group activities and accomplishments. Use about
300 words or less, and cover the Year 4 reporting period.**

Highlights

From the Focus Group activities during this reporting year, what
'headlines' would you like to emphasize? Use bullets & identify these in
1-2 sentences each. Please write bullets in full sentences.

NASA or International Mission Involvement

Identify how this Focus Group activity is involved with (or relates to)
any NASA or international space or airborne mission(s).

FIRST: Complete this chart. Use the 2 guides provided below.

+-----------+-------------------+-------------------------------------+
| \*        | Mission Name (for | > \*\* Type of Involvement          |
| Mission   | class 1 or 2) OR  |                                     |
| Class     | Concept (for      |                                     |
|           | class 3)          |                                     |
+-----------+-------------------+-------------------------------------+
|           |                   |                                     |
+-----------+-------------------+-------------------------------------+

[\* Mission Class]{.underline}: Select 1 of 3 Mission Class types below
to classify your project:

1.  Now flying OR Funded & in development (e.g., Mars Odyssey, MER 2003,
    Kepler)

2.  Named mission under study / in development, but not yet funded
    (e.g., TPF, Mars Lander 2009)

3\. Long-lead future mission / societal issues (e.g., far-future Mars or
Europa, biomarkers, life definition)

[\*\* Type of Involvement]{.underline} = Role / Relationship with
Mission

Specify one (or more) of the following: PI, Co-I, Science Team member,
planning support, data analysis, background research, instrument/payload
development, research or analysis techniques, other (specify).

SECOND: Briefly provide more background (describe in a few sentences)
how this Focus Group activity is involved with (or relates to) NASA or
international space or airborne mission(s) identified in the chart.

**Field Expeditions**

Provide information about field work for this Focus Group. Use one table
per expedition. Duplicate table as necessary.