Is the Earth unique? Are we alone in the universe?
We are the first generation with the technological and scientific ability to answer these timeless questions. Most scientists today agree that finding life in space is no longer a question of if, but when.
A panel of leading experts in astrophysics will describe the scientific and technological roadmap that will lead to the discovery of habitable worlds among the stars on Monday, July 14 from 2-3:30 p.m., EDT in the NASA Headquarters auditorium. The panel, entitled “The Search for Life in the Universe,” also will be broadcast live on NASA TV and on nasa.gov.
Space and ground observatories are cataloging and characterizing hundreds and eventually thousands of potentially habitable worlds in our galaxy. Missions like the Chandra X-ray Observatory, the Kepler space telescope and the Hubble space telescope make important new discoveries every day. NASA’s next great observatory, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), will continue to help scientists rewrite scientific textbooks when it launches in 2018.
The “Search for Life” panelists will describe how new technologies and missions will build on the successes of these incredible spacecraft. Enabled by advanced technologies now within our reach, a new generation of large space telescopes can provide scientific evidence for the presence of life elsewhere in space. The discussion will cover new technologies and missions such as starshades that will help scientists directly image exoplanets for the first time.
The panel will be moderated by Ellen Stofan, NASA’s chief scientist. Panel participants are:
Dave Gallagher, Director for Astronomy and Physics, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California.
John M. Grunsfeld, Ph.D., Associate Administrator, NASA’s Science Mission Directorate in Washington, D.C.
John C. Mather, Ph.D., Nobel Laureate and Senior Project Scientist for JWST at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.
Matt Mountain, Ph.D., Director of the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, Maryland and Telescope Scientist for JWST.
Sara Seager, Ph.D., MacArthur Fellow and Professor of Planetary Science & Physics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
The seminar will take place at 2 p.m., EDT on Monday, July 14 in the Webb Auditorium at NASA headquarters (300 E St. SW) in Washington, D.C. and will be broadcast live on NASA TV.
Visit searchforlife.net to learn more.