Horneck G
Deutsche Forschungsanstalt für Luft- und Raumfahrt, Institut für Luft- und Raumfahrtmedizin, Köln, Germany.
Planet Space Sci. 1995 Jan-Feb;43(1-2):189-217. doi: 10.1016/0032-0633(94)00190-3.
The primary goal of exobiological research is to reach a better understanding of the processes leading to the origin, evolution and distribution of life on Earth or elsewhere in the universe. In this endeavour, scientists from a wide variety of disciplines are involved, such as astronomy, planetary research, organic chemistry, palaeontology and the various subdisciplines of biology including microbial ecology and molecular biology. Space technology plays an important part by offering the opportunity for exploring our solar system, for collecting extraterrestrial samples, and for utilizing the peculiar environment of space as a tool. Exobiological activities include comparison of the overall pattern of chemical evolution of potential precursors of life, in the interstellar medium, and on the planets and small bodies of our solar system; tracing the history of life on Earth back to its roots; deciphering the environments of the planets in our solar system and of their satellites, throughout their history, with regard to their habitability; searching for other planetary systems in our Galaxy and for signals of extraterrestrial civilizations; testing the impact of space environment on survivability of resistant life forms. This evolutionary approach towards understanding the phenomenon of life in the context of cosmic evolution may eventually contribute to a better understanding of the processes regulating the interactions of life with its environment on Earth.
外星生物学研究的主要目标是更深入地了解导致地球上或宇宙其他地方生命起源、演化和分布的过程。在这项工作中，来自天文学、行星研究、有机化学、古生物学以及包括微生物生态学和分子生物学在内的生物学各个子学科等广泛学科的科学家都参与其中。空间技术通过提供探索太阳系、收集外星样本以及利用太空特殊环境作为工具的机会，发挥着重要作用。外星生物学活动包括比较星际介质、太阳系中的行星和小天体上生命潜在前体的化学演化总体模式；将地球上生命的历史追溯到其根源；解读太阳系中行星及其卫星在整个历史过程中与可居住性相关的环境；在我们的星系中寻找其他行星系统以及外星文明的信号；测试空间环境对抗性生命形式生存能力的影响。这种在宇宙演化背景下理解生命现象的进化方法最终可能有助于更好地理解调节地球上生命与其环境相互作用的过程。
