Solar system exploration will increasingly involve an ability to search for signatures of extraterrestrial life. Accomplishment of
this goal requires advances in in situ science capabilities to acquire samples, prepare them, and analyze their physical and
chemical properties. Instrument technologies for in-situ exploration are also relevant to the study of Earth’s extreme
environments, such as deep-sea vents, high-altitude environments, and Arctic/Antarctic locations. Such studies will help define
origin-of-life issues, aid in evaluating strategies for characterizing habitable zones on other worlds, and characterize the envelope
of terrestrial life.