Cable, Morgan L.; Porco, Carolyn; Glein, Christopher R.; German, Christopher R.; MacKenzie, Shannon M.; Neveu, Marc; Hoehler, Tori M.; Hofmann, Amy E.; Hendrix, Amanda R.; Eigenbrode, Jennifer; Postberg, Frank; Spilker, Linda J.; McEwen, Alfred; Khawaja, Nozair; Hunter Waite, J.; Wurz, Peter; Helbert, Jörn; Anbar, Ariel; de Vera, Jean-Pierre and Núñez, Jorge (2021). The Science Case for a Return to Enceladus. The planetary science journal, 2(4), p. 132. IOP Publishing 10.3847/psj/abfb7a
|
Text
Cable_2021_Planet._Sci._J._2_132.pdf - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons: Attribution (CC-BY). Download (1MB) | Preview |
The plume of Enceladus is unique in the solar system in providing direct access to fresh material from an
extraterrestrial subsurface ocean. The Cassini Mission, though not specifically designed for it, was able to take
advantage of the plume to conduct the best characterization to date of an extraterrestrial ocean. Evidence gathered
from multiple instruments points to a global, subsurface liquid water ocean rich in salts and organic compounds,
with water-rock interactions occurring presumably in hydrothermal systems at or below the moon’s sea floor.
Meeting the criteria of “extended regions of liquid water, conditions favorable for the assembly of complex organic
molecules, and energy source(s) to sustain metabolism,” the ocean of Enceladus can therefore be considered
habitable. It is also the only confirmed place beyond the Earth where we can easily sample fresh material from a
demonstrably habitable environment without the complications of digging or drilling. The next step is to
investigate whether Enceladus’ ocean is actually inhabited. Here, we summarize the evidence for Enceladus’ ocean
and its habitability, identify constraints and outstanding questions on the detectability of life within its ocean, and
recommend a return to Enceladus with a dedicated search-for-life mission (or missions).
Item Type: |
Journal Article (Original Article) |
|---|---|
Division/Institute: |
08 Faculty of Science > Physics Institute > Space Research and Planetary Sciences 08 Faculty of Science > Physics Institute |
UniBE Contributor: |
Wurz, Peter |
Subjects: |
500 Science > 520 Astronomy 600 Technology > 620 Engineering 500 Science > 530 Physics |
ISSN: |
2632-3338 |
Publisher: |
IOP Publishing |
Language: |
English |
Submitter: |
Dora Ursula Zimmerer |
Date Deposited: |
09 Sep 2021 10:09 |
Last Modified: |
05 Dec 2022 15:52 |
Publisher DOI: |
10.3847/psj/abfb7a |
BORIS DOI: |
10.48350/158332 |
URI: |
https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/158332 |
Actions (login required)
 |
Edit item |