Suggested Searches

NASA’s Operating and Future Science Fleet, as of March 20, 2025, is illustrated in a space-themed chart with Earth on the left, the Sun at center, and planets from Mars to the outer solar system on the right. The image categorizes missions by scientific focus—Earth science (green), heliophysics (yellow), planetary science (purple), astrophysics (blue), and biological & physical science (orange). Missions are labeled around their target areas: Earth-orbiting missions like Landsat, SWOT, NISAR, and PACE are clustered near Earth. Lunar missions, including Artemis III and Lunar Trailblazer, are positioned around the Moon. Solar missions such as Parker Solar Probe, SDO, and TRACERS surround the Sun. Planetary missions like Perseverance and Curiosity appear near Mars; Europa Clipper near Jupiter; Dragonfly near Saturn. Deep space missions including Voyager 1 and 2, New Horizons, and astrophysics observatories like Webb, Hubble, Roman, and Chandra are placed farther out in the cosmos. Missions shown in bold are future launches. Partner-led missions are marked with asterisks (*), commercial partnerships with double asterisks (**), and missions under review with carets (^). An ISS silhouette anchors the Earth-orbiting biological and physical science payloads.

Astrobiology in Missions

Astrobiology Relevant Missions at NASA

22

Active NASA Space Missions Relevant to Astrobiology

02

International Astrobiology-Related Missions with NASA involvement

When humankind began to explore beyond Earth's atmosphere, our understanding of life on Earth and the potential for life beyond our planet changed forever. Missions gathered data on locations far and wide - from the planets of our solar system to exoplanets around distant stars. Data from missions helped shape knowledge of habitability, helping astrobiologists determine and identify the conditions necessary for life as we know it. Other data taught us about how planets form and become habitable for life. Some missions were even designed with specific astrobiology goals and to directly address NASA's search for life in the universe.

Active NASA Space Missions Relevant to Astrobiology

Visit all NASA Science Missions

Artist's rendition of the Advanced Composition Explorer (ACE) spacecraft.

Advanced Composition Explorer (ACE)

Observing solar, interplanetary, interstellar, and galactic origins.

An artist's illustration of the Chandra spacecraft in orbit.

Chandra X-Ray Observatory

NASA's flagship mission for X-ray astronomy.

Artist's rendering of NASA's Europa Clipper

Europa Clipper

Detailed reconnaissance of Jupiter's moon Europa.

Two spacecraft approach Mars

Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers (ESCAPADE)

Interactions of the solar wind and Mars.

NASA's Hubble Space Telescope

Hubble Space Telescope

Changing our fundamental understanding of the universe.

A round-shaped spacecraft with black solar panels on top appears at the center of the image against a black background speckled with white stars.

Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP)

Understanding the boundary of the heliosphere.

A montage of the Webb Space Telescope over a composited background of stars and galaxies.

James Webb Space Telescope

Studying every phase in the history of our universe.

This illustration depicts NASA's Juno spacecraft in orbit above Jupiter. From its unique polar orbit, Juno will repeatedly dive between the planet and its intense belts of charged particle radiation.

Juno

Unveiling the secrets of Jupiter.

Future NASA Space Missions relevant to Astrobiology

Visit all NASA Science Missions

Round probe descending to Venus with hazy yellowish sky and mountains in background.

DAVINCI

Studying Venus from its clouds down to the surface.

Dragonfly rotorcratf facing away on the rust-orange surface with giant dunes in the background and a hazy yellow sky

Dragonfly

Flights of science across Saturn's moon Titan.

Three telescope concepts for the Habitable Worlds Obervatory float on a white background. Moving from right to left, the first telescope is hexagonal mirror segments, the second is round with a keystone mirror in the center and 6 outer segments, and the final concept is round with various segments.

Habitable Worlds Observatory

The search for signs of life on exoplanets.

Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope

Investigate dark matter, exoplanets, and other mysteries.

A gray spacecraft is illustrated over Venus with one of its instruments scanning the planet below.

VERITAS

Discovering the secrets of a lost habitable world.

Current International Missions with NASA Involvement Relevant to Astrobiology

Visit all NASA Science Missions

Artist's concept of ESA's Trace Gas Orbiter.

ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter

Searching Mars’ atmosphere for methane and other trace gases indicative of potential biological or geological activity.

Illustration of spacecraft at Jupiter with four moons visible.

Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE)

Studying Jupiter and three of the planet's icy moons: Ganymede, Callisto, and Europa.

Future International Missions with NASA Involvement Relevant to Astrobiology

Visit all NASA Science Missions

ExoMars Rosalind Franklin

Drilling on Mars to search for signs of past or present life.

Active Ground-based Telescopes making Observations relevant to Astrobiology

Visit all NASA Science Missions

Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array

In search of our cosmic origins.

The International Gemini Observatory consists of twin 8.1-meter diameter optical/infrared telescopes located on two of the best observing sites on the planet. From their locations on Maunakea in Hawai‘i and Cerro Pachón in Chile, Gemini Observatory's telescopes can collectively access the entire sky.

Gemini Observatory

Exploring the universe and sharing its wonders.

The domed telescope sits atop a red-orange hill at sunset

NASA Infrared Telescope Facility

The national facility for infrared astronomy.

McDonald Observatory image of NGC 4314

Habitable Zone Planet Finder

High precision measurements of infrared signals from nearby stars.

At the summit of Mauna Kea, Hawaii, NASA astronomers have linked the two 10-meter (33-foot) telescopes at the W. M. Keck Observatory. The linked telescopes, together are called the Keck Interferometer, the world's most powerful optical telescope system.

W.M. Keck Observatory

Exploring the local and distant Universe.

Past Missions Relevant to Astrobiology

Visit all NASA Science Missions

An astronaut works near a Moon buggy on the surface of the Moon.

Apollo Program (Project Apollo)

Fulfilling a dream as old as humanity.

This is an artists concept of NASA's Cassini spacecraft during the Saturn Orbit Insertion (SOI) maneuver, just after the main engine has begun firing.

Cassini-Huygens Saturn Orbiter and Titan Probe

Sharing the wonders of Saturn and its family of icy moons.

a photo of CGRO being deployed in space

Compton Gamma Ray Observatory (CGRO)

Observing the high-energy Universe.

This artist's concept gives us a look at the moment of impact and the forming of the crater.

Deep Impact

Probing beneath the surface of a comet.

U.S. flag visible on Viking lander with Martian terrain on horizon

Viking Project

The first mission to safely reach the martian surface and the first to search for evidence of life on Mars.