NASA Decadal Astrobiology Research and Exploration Strategy

NASA‑DARES (Decadal Astrobiology Research and Exploration Strategy) is NASA’s next roadmap for studying the origins, evolution, distribution, and future of life in the universe. Developed through extensive community input, NASA‑DARES builds on the 2015 NASA Astrobiology Strategy and National Academies’ reports, reflecting on recent advances and identifying thematic Focus Areas to guide astrobiology research and exploration. It champions astrobiology’s interdisciplinary spirit, synergizing cross-divisional efforts across the Science Mission Directorate and beyond.

Why NASA-DARES Now?

The NASA Astrobiology Strategy from 2015 has been an excellent document for NASA planning and advancement of astrobiology. In the past 10 years, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM), Research Coordination Networks (RCNs), and Assessment/Analysis Groups (AGs)  have published decadal surveys and community consensus reports of great relevance to astrobiology. While much of NASA's 2015 Astrobiology Strategy remains relevant today, the field has grown significantly in the last decade, and so NASA's strategy requires updates. Publications such as the 2018 Exoplanet Science Strategy, the 2019 Astrobiology Science Strategy for the Search for Life in the Universe, Astro2020, and the 2023 OWL Planetary Science decadal survey, among others, have introduced updated priorities and increasingly interdisciplinary perspectives. More recently, transformative advances in research tools, such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, have expanded frontiers in life detection research beyond what was previously possible. The in-progress Decadal Astrobiology Research and Exploration Strategy (2026) will build on all of these community efforts to produce a comprehensive, forward-looking framework for NASA's astrobiology missions and research, fully aligned with the findings and recommendations from the monumental efforts that preceded it.

Focus Areas

These nine major focus areas were identified by Task Force 1 in response to 130 community whitepapers submitted to a Request for Information and refined at a community workshop in May 2025. They will continue to be refined by the community in the next phase of NASA-DARES.

NASA-DARES 2025 RFI Workshop Recordings

Project Status

The NASA-DARES activity is split into 4 phases spanning 2 years. The project is now in Phase 3: Writing and Refinement. Apply to serve on Task Force 2 through September 29, 2025 at 11:59 PM ET at go.nasa.gov/ABStrategyRFI.

• Laying the Groundwork
• Framing the Strategy
• Writing & Refinement
• Publication & Roll-Out

Laying the Groundwork

Q2 2024 – Q1 2025

NASA-Led Activities:
Internal strategic planning and coordination across SMD
Chartering the NASA Astrobiology Federation
Development and release of NASA-DARES Request for Information (RFI)
Hosting town hall and engaging stakeholders (AGs, RCNs, CAPS)
Community Participation Opportunities:
Respond to Request for Information
Town Hall, RCN and AG meetings, CAPS, RFI Writing Hub at AGU
Early Career: NASA Astrobiology Strategy Student Historian via OSTEM
Strategic Outcomes
Community-informed scoping of NASA-DARES
Established coordination and internal alignment to support DARES activities