Location
CoLab, OCB 100
Start Date
25-4-2024 12:00 PM
Document Type
Poster
Description
Jupiter’s moon, Europa, is one of the most considerable candidates for life to arise in our solar system aside from Earth. Being considerably unexplored, Europa requires additional investigation through the mission “Phanes”. We propose to identify remnants of biological processes, vital compounds for life, and the general conditions of Europa’s subterranean global ocean, so we can further understand the conditions required for life to arise outside of Earth. This mission will be achieved through a series of gravity assists in order to slingshot the craft toward the Jovian system. Once landed, a submersible will thaw through the ice using heated water powered by a radioisotope thermoelectric generator. Once underwater, the submersible which is fitted with a mass spectrometer and a device analogous to the Mars rover Perseverance's SHERLOC will uncover the underwater physical conditions and chemical composition of Europa and if it could harbor life.
Image
Finding Life Underwater on Europa through Phanes
CoLab, OCB 100
Jupiter’s moon, Europa, is one of the most considerable candidates for life to arise in our solar system aside from Earth. Being considerably unexplored, Europa requires additional investigation through the mission “Phanes”. We propose to identify remnants of biological processes, vital compounds for life, and the general conditions of Europa’s subterranean global ocean, so we can further understand the conditions required for life to arise outside of Earth. This mission will be achieved through a series of gravity assists in order to slingshot the craft toward the Jovian system. Once landed, a submersible will thaw through the ice using heated water powered by a radioisotope thermoelectric generator. Once underwater, the submersible which is fitted with a mass spectrometer and a device analogous to the Mars rover Perseverance's SHERLOC will uncover the underwater physical conditions and chemical composition of Europa and if it could harbor life.
Comments
The faculty mentors for this project were Steven Giambrone and Doug Patterson, Astrobiology.