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Space Studies Board

The Space Studies Board brings space science and applications and other related expertise together to address space science and space policy issues of national importance.

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News and Updates

Search for Life Should Be Top Science Priority for First Human Landing on Mars, Says New Report

News Release

When astronauts set foot on Mars, it will be one of humanity’s greatest milestones, marking the start of a new era of discovery on another planet. A new National Academies report identifies the highest priority science objectives for the first human missions to Mars and says searching for evidence of existing or past life on the planet should be the top priority.

Dec 9, 2025
cover art for A Science Strategy for the Human Exploration of Mars
About Events Projects Publications/Resources News and updates

Projects

Astro2020: Panel on Radio, Millimeter and Submillimeter Observations from the Ground

Consensus/Advisory Activity

Completed

Decadal Survey on Astronomy and Astrophysics 2020 (Astro2020)

Consensus/Advisory Activity

Completed

Science Opportunities Enabled by the Gateway: A Workshop

Workshop

Completed

Future of U.S. Civil Space Policy: A Workshop

Workshop

Completed

Searching for Life Across Space and Time: A Workshop

Workshop

Completed

Assessing the NASA Science Activation Program

Consensus/Advisory Activity

Completed

Committee on Biological and Physical Sciences in Space

Consensus/Advisory Activity

Recently Completed

Review of Progress Toward Implementing the Decadal Survey - Solar and Space Physics: A Science for a Technological Society

Consensus/Advisory Activity

Completed

Near Earth Object Observations in the Infrared and Visible Wavelengths

Consensus/Advisory Activity

Completed

Continuous Improvement of NASA’s Innovation Ecosystem - A Workshop and Meetings of Experts

Workshop

Completed

Exoplanet Science Strategy

Consensus/Advisory Activity

Completed

Astrobiology Science Strategy for the Search for Life in the Universe

Consensus/Advisory Activity

Completed

Planetary Protection Requirements for Sample-Return Missions from Martian Moons

Consensus/Advisory Activity

Completed

Best Practices for a Future Open Code Policy for NASA Space Science

Consensus/Advisory Activity

Completed

Extraterrestrial Sample Analysis Facilities

Consensus/Advisory Activity

Completed
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