The goal of this workshop, sponsored by the NASA Astrobiology Institute, is to bring together microbiologists, planetary scientists and experts in flight experiments and hardware to assess the value and feasibility of studying cyanobacteria in space environments. The initial emphasis will be on satellite and lunar platforms with an appreciation that these targets will also serve as steps towards Mars and beyond.

Cyanobacteria are of great interest as model microorganisms to space programs because of their antiquity on earth, metabolic diversity, resilience to adverse conditions, ability to efficiently produce oxygen and hydrogen, and the existence of advanced capabilities for their genetic manipulation. Furthermore, cyanobacteria are often considered as having potential value for in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) and life support technologies. Critical review of both basic research and application potentials of cyanobacteria is warranted as soon as possible to determine the course and priority of research on this group of microbes within the NASA mission and science programs.

Our workshop is aimed at generating a well-informed, systematic research program to address survival, acclimation, adaptation and utilization of cyanobacteria in space environments. Such an exploration program will also need to be planned within the context of current or near-future, experimental capabilities of various ground, satellite and lunar platforms. Thus, it is critical to bring together experts in diverse fields, so that realistic scenarios for using cyanobacteria, and possibly other microorganisms, for both the mission and research goals of NASA can be strategically planned.

We expect that the end product of the workshop will be a white paper that will serve as a guiding document for NASA in addressing issues related to the potential for life to survive and thrive in the solar system and for the use of microorganisms for in-situ resource utilization in lunar exploration. We also plan to prepare at the workshop, a community-authored "position paper" on these issues that will be published in a peer-reviewed astrobiology journal so as to reach a wide audience.