Origins, Worlds, and Life : A Decadal Strategy for Planetary Science and Astrobiology 2023-2032

The next decade of planetary science and astrobiology holds tremendous promise. New research will expand our understanding of our solar system's origins, how planets form and evolve, under what conditions life can survive, and where to find potentially habitable environments in our solar system and beyond. Origins, Worlds, and Life: A Decadal Strategy for Planetary Science and Astrobiology 2023-2032 highlights key science questions, identifies priority missions, and presents a comprehensive research strategy that includes both planetary defense and human exploration. This report also recommends ways to support the profession as well as the technologies and infrastructure needed to carry out the science. FrontMatter 2 Preface 10 Acknowledgment of Reviewers 14 Contents 16 Summary 22 1 Introduction to Planetary Science, Astrobiology, and Planetary Defense 31 2 Tour of the Solar System: A Transformative Decade of Exploration 49 3 Priority Science Questions 118 4 Question 1: Evolution of the Protoplanetary Disk 123 5 Question 2: Accretion in the Outer Solar System 151 6 Question 3: Origin of Earth and Inner Solar System Bodies 185 7 Question 4: Impacts and Dynamics 213 8 Question 5: Solid Body Interiors and Surfaces 240 9 Question 6: Solid Body Atmospheres, Exospheres, Magnetospheres, and Climate Evolution 267 10 Question 7: Giant Planet Structure and Evolution 299 11 Question 8: Circumplanetary Systems 320 12 Question 9: Insights from Terrestrial Life 345 13 Question 10: Dynamic Habitability 373 14 Question 11: Search for Life Elsewhere 403 15 Question 12: Exoplanets 428 16 State of the Profession 455 17 Research and Analysis 485 18 Planetary Defense: Defending Earth through Applied Planetary Science 515 19 Human Exploration 546 20 Infrastructure for Planetary Science and Exploration 565 21 Technology 583 22 Recommended Program: 2023-2032 613 23 The Future 658 Appendixes 663 Appendix A: Letter of Request, Statement of Task, and Other Guidance 664 Appendix B: White Papers Received 671 Appendix C: Technical Risk and Cost Evaluation of Priority Missions 694 Appendix D: Missions Studied But Not Sent for TRACE 725 Appendix E: Panel Missions Not Selected for Additional Study 737 Appendix F: Glossary and Acronyms 744 Appendix G: Biographies of Committee Members and Staff 755