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N2-astrobiology working group

N2-DWG6: N2: Astrobiology Discipline Working Group (DWG6)

C.Muller, B.USOC-IASB-BIRA, Belgium

E.Szuszkiewicz, CASA*, University of Szczecin, Poland

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N2-astrobiology working group

What is astrobiology: an answer to questions? 1. How did life begin and evolve on Earth ? 2. What are the conditions under which life can exist? 3. Do conditions exist elsewhere in the Universe which may

sustain life?.

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N2-astrobiology working group

Where are we? Who are we? A basic existing network exists independently as EANA (European

Astrobiology Network Association). EUROPLANET allows more structured extensions and put the network in the

dynamics of FP-7, a new dimension to European science. Via N2 DWG6 the European planetary community will be able to ensure that

it will be strongly involved in the ongoing planning phases of future ESA programmes with an astrobiology mission (e.g. any planned missions to Europa).

The newly structured DWG6 should develop closer links with other

Europlanet DWGs (DWG1: atmospheres, ionospheres, exospheres; DWG2: magnetospheres and plasmas; DWG3+5: surface science + planetary moons; DWG4+9: small bodies and dust + solar system formation; DWG7: exoplanets; DWG8: planetary interior and composition) such that the astrobiological implications of wider planetary and astronomical science are recognized by these distinct communities ensuring a wider more integrated European research programme is developed.

By acting as a coordinator of EU Astrobiology research N2 DWG6 will be able to form stronger links with NASA’s Astrobiology Institute (and other international Astrobiology Institutes) in turn establishing opportunities for European planetary scientists to develop common research with non-European planetary and exoplanets studies missions.

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N2-astrobiology working group

Who are the current EUROPLANET proponents?

H Lammer Space Research Institute, Graz; University of Salzburg, Austria E Javaux,University of Liege; Belgium P Claeys, University of Brussels; Belgium C Muller B.USOC and Belgian Institute of spatial Aeronomy, Brussels, Belgium D Field and Kai Finster, University of Aarhus, Denmark K Lehto, University of Turku,Finland H Lehto Tuorla Observatory,Finland F Raulin, Université Paris 12, France A Brack, CBM Orléans, France G Horneck, Institute of Aerospace Medicine Cologne, Germany S Schlemmer, University of Cologne, Germany L. Colangeli, Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica Osservatorio Astronomico di Capodimonte, Naples,Italy G. Strazzulla,. M.E. Palumbo Osservatorio Astrofisico di Catania, Italy P Ehrenfreund Leiden University, the Netherlands AWolszczan Nicolaus, CASA*, Copernicus University, Torun Poland F Ferrari, CASA*, University of Stettin,Poland Juan Perez Mercader, L Vázquez, Centre of Astrobiology, Madrid,Spain B Hofmann, Natural History Museum Bern,Switzerland C Cockell , M Grady and N J Mason, Open University, UK

Almost each of us represents already a national network and extension is wished! We want to be an open network!

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N2-astrobiology working group

What is the place of ASTROBIOLOGY in the E.U. objectives?

The 2000 Lisbon summit led to two new strategies in space research and data use: GMES and the ESA AURORA programme, as AURORA has as a final objective manned exploration, it leads to a development of life sciences and sciences of life in space.

FP-7 brings science at the heart of the exploration enterprise and astrobiology is a necessary part of it!