Expanding Astrobiology: The Case for a Lunar Biorepository

Earth’s resources are essential to support an expanding presence beyond the planet. Yet global conflicts, environmental change, and natural disasters threaten ecosystems and biodiversity, putting the integrity of Earth’s ecosystems and its resources at risk. These converging challenges underscore the urgency to develop innovative strategies to conserve Earth’s biodiversity. Astrobiology—seeking to understand life’s origins, limits, and potential beyond Earth—plays a central role in this effort, helping to preserve Earth’s species while also providing critical assets to explore and work in space. A Lunar Biorepository was proposed to hold cryopreserved samples from among the most critical species on Earth. Here, we review the potential benefits, challenges, and solutions of a Lunar Biorepository to demonstrate how it may support the emerging role of astrobiology as a cross-cutting capability of NASA and other space agencies. The technology and science needed to build this biorepository and its ability to support other critical planned missions enhance the goals of astrobiology, specifically extreme cryo-environment adaptation and preservation and detection of biosignatures. We also consider how a Lunar Biorepository would support new technology and how we will develop a multipurpose payload while strengthening community and fostering cross-discipline collaboration. To support life beyond Earth, we must understand how life can exist in space and be transported to other environments. A Lunar Biorepository would both advance astrobiological research and help safeguard Earth’s biodiversity.