NASA names astrobiology institute teams

MOFFETT FIELD, Calif., Oct. 6 (UPI) -- The National Aeronautics and Space Administration has picked 10 U.S. teams to study the origins, evolution, distribution and future of life in the universe.

Each interdisciplinary team receives a five-year grant averaging $7 million and becomes a member of NASA's Astrobiology Institute, located at NASA's Ames Research Center.

Selected are teams from the University of Hawaii, Arizona State University, the Carnegie Institution of Washington, Pennsylvania State University, the Georgia Institute of Technology and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Teams from Ames, the Goddard Space Flight Center and two teams from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., also were selected.

"The research of these new teams reflects the increasing maturity of astrobiology," said NASA Astrobiology Institute Director Carl Pilcher. "They are focused on fundamental questions of life in the universe but their work has implications for all of science. The research of these teams, together with that of the four continuing institute teams, will bridge the basic science of astrobiology to NASA's current and planned space exploration missions."

The new members join four continuing teams from Montana State University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of Washington in Seattle and the University of Wisconsin.