Spanish Astrobiology Center

Astrobiology Center (Centro de Astrobiología)

Founder(s)| Juan Pérez-Mercader
Established| 19 November 1999
Mission| Astrobiology research
Focus| Origin of life
Director| Víctor Parro García
Owner| INTA-CSIC
Location|

Madrid

Spain

Website| cab.inta-csic.es/en/

Spanish Astrobiology Center (Spanish: Centro de Astrobiología (CAB)) is a state-run institute in Spain dedicated to astrobiology research, and it is part of the National Institute of Aerospace Technology (INTA) as well as the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC).[1] It was created in 1999 and it is affiliated with NASA Astrobiology Institute.

Its main objective is "understanding life as a consequence of the evolution of the matter and energy in the Universe."[2]

## Contents

* 1 History
* 2 Organization
* 3 Research
* 4 References
* 5 External links

## History

The foundation of Spain's Astrobiology Center (CAB) had its beginnings in 1998 when a group of Spanish scientists led by Juan Pérez-Mercader, presented a proposal of affiliation to the newly created NASA Astrobiology Institute (NAI).[3] The affiliation was accepted and the center was officially created on 19 November 1999. It operated from offices at the National Institute of Aerospace Technology (INTA) until it moved to its own building inaugurated in January 2003.

## Organization

The Astrobiology Center is based in Madrid, Spain, its Director is Víctor Parro García, and the Vicedirector is Francisco Najarro. The center is organized into several research and support units, and some of these are associated to Spanish universities, including the University of Valladolid and the Autonomous University of Madrid. The center is part of the National Institute of Aerospace Technology (INTA) as well as the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC).[1]

The center is structured in several departments:[4][5] Astrophysics Department, Molecular Evolution Department, Planetary Science and Habitability Department, Advanced Instrumentations Department, as well as several support units.

## Research

CAB has contributed to NASA in its mission to better characterize and find conditions for life in the Universe, and has prioritized Martian weather research and endurance of some extremophile microorganisms.[3] CAB has developed instruments for multiple missions:

* Rover Environmental Monitoring Station (REMS) for the Curiosity rover
* Temperature and Winds for InSight (TWINS) on the InSight mission
* MEDA (Mars Environmental Dynamics Analyzer), which rides on NASA's Perseverance rover launched in 2020
* Raman Laser Spectrometer (RLS) for detecting minerals and potential biological pigments for the European Space Agency's Rosalind Franklin rover also to be launched in 2022.[3]
* CAB is also developing a life-detector called Signs Of LIfe Detector (SOLID) to be potentially flown in a future mission.[3]

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Centro de Astrobiología - CSIC - INTA
2. ↑ Centro de Astrobiología. Departamentos y Unidades de Apoyo. Accessed on 6 December 2018.
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Spain's Centro de Astrobiología. Elizabeth Howell, Astrobiology Magazine. 18 January 2019.
4. ↑ Lines of Investigation. CAB. Accessed on 6 November 2018.
5. ↑ CAB - Official Flier. Accessed on 6 December 2018.

## External links

* Official website
* Official flier of the Astrobiology Center (in English)

* v
* t
* e

Astrobiology

Disciplines|

* Astrochemistry
* Astrophysics
* Atmospheric sciences
* Biochemistry
* Evolutionary biology
* Exoplanetology
* Geomicrobiology
* Microbiology
* Paleontology
* Planetary science

Main topics|

* Abiogenesis
* Allan Hills 84001
* Biomolecule
* Biosignature
* Drake equation
* Earliest known life forms
* Earth analog
* Extraterrestrial life
* Extraterrestrial sample curation
* Extremophiles
* Hypothetical types of biochemistry
* List of microorganisms tested in outer space
* Molecules detected in outer space
* Ocean planet
* Origin of life
* Panspermia
* Planetary protection
* Search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI)
* Yamato meteorite

Planetary
habitability|

* Habitability of binary star systems
* Habitability of K-type main-sequence star systems
* Habitability of natural satellites
* Habitability of red dwarf systems
* Circumstellar habitable zone
* Earth analog
* List of potentially habitable exoplanets
* Tholin
* Extraterrestrial liquid water
* Galactic habitable zone
* Superhabitable planet

Space
missions|

| Earth orbit|

* BIO
* BIOCORE
* Biolab
* Bion
* BIOPAN
* Biosatellite program
* E-MIST
* ERA
* CROPIS
* EXOSTACK
* EXPOSE
* Lunar Micro Ecosystem
* O/OREOS
* OREOcube
* Tanpopo
* VEGGIE

|

Mars|

* Beagle 2
* ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter
* Fobos-Grunt
* Mars Science Laboratory
* Curiosity
* Phoenix
* Viking

Comets and
asteroids|

* Hayabusa2
* OSIRIS-REx
* Rosetta

Planned|

* BioSentinel
* Dragonfly
* Europa Clipper
* ExoMars
* Rosalind Franklin rover
* Kazachock lander
* Mars 2020 rover
* HX-1

Proposed|

* CAESAR
* Enceladus Explorer
* Enceladus Life Finder‎
* Enceladus Life Signatures and Habitability
* Europa Lander
* ExoLance
* Explorer of Enceladus and Titan
* Icebreaker Life
* Journey to Enceladus and Titan
* Laplace-P
* Life Investigation For Enceladus
* Mars sample return mission
* Oceanus
* THEO
* Trident

Cancelled and
undeveloped|

* Astrobiology Field Laboratory
* Beagle 3
* Biological Oxidant and Life Detection
* Living Interplanetary Flight Experiment
* Mars Astrobiology Explorer-Cacher
* MELOS
* Northern Light
* Red Dragon
* Terrestrial Planet Finder

Institutions
and programs|

* Astrobiology Society of Britain
* Astrobiology Science and Technology for Exploring Planets
* Breakthrough Initiatives
* Breakthrough Listen
* Breakthrough Message
* Breakthrough Starshot
* Carl Sagan Institute
* Center for Life Detection Science
* European Astrobiology Network Association
* NASA Astrobiology Institute
* Nexus for Exoplanet System Science
* Ocean Worlds Exploration Program
* Spanish Astrobiology Center‎

* Category
* Commons
* Portal: Astronomy
* Biology

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