Centro de Astrobiologia (CSIC-INTA)

The Centro de Astrobiología (CAB) was established in 1999 as a joint CSIC–INTA research institute associated to NASA’s Astrobiology Program. CAB was the first astrobiology research institute founded in the world with a clear mission to advance humanity’s understanding of the origin, evolution, and distribution of life in the Universe. Given the complexity and multi-/inter-/trans-disciplinary nature of the topic, CAB was designed as a research hub integrating all fields in astrobiology, from astrophysics and astrochemistry, to prebiotic chemistry, planetary sciences, biochemistry, evolutionary biology, extremophile biology, and the required space instrumentation. Since 1999, CAB has grown as an internationally recognized center of excellence in astrobiology worldwide. With more than 200 researchers and technicians across the INTA and ESAC campuses, CAB carries out forefront research in all fields of astrobiology and plays a leading role in the development and scientific exploitation of instrumentation for major international space missions led by NASA, ESA, and JAXA: MSL (Curiosity), Mars 2020 (Perseverance), InSight, Rosalind Franklin, MMX (Martian Moons eXploration), BepiColombo, JWST, and PLATO. The center is also strongly involved in flagship ground-based facilities and projects such as HARMONI, MOSAIC and ANDES for the Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) among others (see below), and hosts unmatched astrochemical and planetary simulation chambers, as well as state-of-the-art chemistry, microbiology, and biogeochemistry laboratories. CAB has also established itself as the leading center in the development of Kinetic Inductance Detectors (KIDs) technology in Spain with important applications in quantum technologies and future space missions. CAB’s researchers are strongly committed to research dissemination and outreach, which makes CAB a reference to inspire younger generations.

Through its research, technological developments, and broad societal impact, CAB is a key institution within both the Spanish and international scientific landscape, contributing significantly to advancing our knowledge of the Universe and the conditions that enable the emergence and survivability of life.