← Back to NASA Technology Projects
Completed TRL 5 (started at 5, targeting 7)
•Spacecraft cannot be cleaned perfectly and carry measurable bioburden.
•Life detection instruments can only succeed if they measure a signal above or different from this background.
•This technology development will develop a flight project-ready (i.e. a process/method ready to be used in Phases C/D) standardized nucleotide-based laboratory technique coupled with a NASA ARC open-access bioinformatics reporting tool for discriminating potential biosignatures on Mars from Earth-sourced bioburden.
•The technology will
1) provide the foundation for an in-situ life detection payload element), and
2) validate & verify capabilities of future life detection instruments and
3) enable low-cost missions meet Planetary Protection requirements.
•The focus is on measuring nucleotides, organic molecules, the fundamental building blocks of DNA and RNA, which carry genetic information in living organisms. This approach covers the range of detection from microbial species through prebiotic chemistry to other life, which may not be DNA based.
This approach covers the range of detection of microbial species from all domains of life. The benefit of the one-year research effort is a standardized life-detection protocol using technologies that have been optimized to detect life at low quantities, coupled with a NASA ARC open-access bioinformatics reporting tool for discriminating potential biosignatures on Mars from Earth-sourced bioburden.
The goal is to expand this effort to JSC and other NASA centers. The technology aims to
1) provide the foundation for an in-situ life detection payload element), and
2) validate & verify capabilities of future life detection instruments and
3) enable low-cost missions meet Planetary Protection requirements.
This is responsive to guidance by the following entities:
•NASA Advisory Groups, including the Planetary Science and Astrobiology Decadal Survey, support modernizing planetary protection with DNA-based methods.
•Space Studies Board Recommendations in 2006 (Advocate systematic phylogenetic data collection to assess microbial communities) and 2019 (Require phylogenetic data collection in ATLO environments and on Mars spacecraft.)
•2019 PPIRB Report: Urges NASA/SMD to adopt modern genomic tools for bioburden monitoring.
Listed on TechPort itself — the most direct way to ask about this specific project.
This is early/mid-stage (TRL 5) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.
None of these are guaranteed paths for this specific project — TechPort itself doesn't have an "apply" button. Reaching out to the contact(s) above with a specific question is usually the fastest way to find out what's actually open.