Open AccessQuantitative evaluation of the feasibility of sampling the ice plumes at Enceladus for biomarkers of extraterrestrial life
Author(s) -
J. S. New,
B. Kazemi,
Vassilia Spathis,
M. C. Price,
Richard A. Mathies,
A. L. Butterworth
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.011
H-Index - 771
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.2106197118
Subject(s) - enceladus , astrobiology , extraterrestrial life , saturn , solar system , icy moon , environmental science , geology , earth science , planet , astronomy , physics
Significance The search for organic biosignatures indicative of life elsewhere in our solar system is an exciting quest that, if successful, will have a profound impact on our biological uniqueness. Saturn’s icy moon Enceladus is a promising location for a second occurrence of life due to its salty subsurface ocean. Plumes that jet out through the ice surface vents provide an enticing opportunity to sample the underlying ocean for biomarkers. The experiments reported here provide accurate modeling of our ability to fly through these plumes to efficiently and nondestructively gather ice particles for biomolecular analysis. Our measured efficiencies demonstrate that Saturn and/or Enceladus orbital missions will gather sufficient ice to make meaningful measurement of biosignatures in the Enceladus plumes.