The Australian Centre for Astrobiology

The Australian Centre for Astrobiology was founded by Prof. Malcolm Walter in July 2001 at Macquarie University, and then moved to the University of New South Wales in 2008. It is the only centre of astrobiological research in Australia and is an Associate Member of the NASA Astrobiology Institute, one of only two in the world. The ACA also has close links with the European Space Agency and other international space agencies and institutions around the world.

News

First view of the Jezero delta from Perseverance

Perseverance rover’s search for life on Mars: from the outback to the red planet

As NASA’s Perseverance rover lands on Mars, UNSW is playing a key role in the search for life on the red planet. In July 2019, Professor Martin Van Kranendonk took a team of NASA and European Space Agency scientists to the Pilbara, in the Western Australian outback.

First image of Jezero Crater, from Perseverance

Perseverance has landed on the crater floor, near to the olivine carbonate unit, about 1 km southeast of the delta deposits, in perfect position for its search for ancient life!