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Biosignatures on Exoplanets Workshop – Mulhouse, France. June 25 2009 MSSL/UCL UK
Astrobiological Signatures Astrobiological Signatures with Penetrators on Europawith Penetrators on Europa
Rob Gowen (MSSL/UCL, UK)on behalf of Penetrator Consortium
Alan Smith1, Richard Ambrosi6, Olga Prieto Ballesteros16, Simeon Barber2, Dave Barnes11, Chris Braithwaite9, John Bridges6, Patrick Brown5, Phillip Church10, Glyn Collinson1, Andrew Coates1, Gareth Collins5, Ian Crawford3, Veronique Dehant21, Michele Dougherty5,
Julian Chela-Flores17, Dominic Fortes7, George Fraser6, Yang Gao4, Manuel Grande11, Andrew Griffiths1, Peter Grindrod7, Leonid Gurvits19, Axel Hagermann2, Tim van Hoolst21, Hauke Hussmann13, Ralf Jaumann13, Adrian Jones7, Geraint Jones1, Katherine Joy3,
Ozgur Karatekin21, Günter Kargl20, Antonella Macagnano14, Katarina Miljkovic 7,Anisha Mukherjee5, Peter Muller1, Ernesto Palomba12,Tom Pike5, Bill Proud9, Derek Pullan6, Francois Raulin15, Lutz Richter18, Keith Ryden2, Simon Sheridan2, Mark Sims6,
Frank Sohl13, Joshua Snape7, Paul Stevens10, Jon Sykes6, Vincent Tong3, Tim Stevenson6, Werner Karl5, Lionel Wilson8, Ian Wright2, John Zarnecki2.
1: Mullard Space Science Laboratory, University College London, 2: Planetary and Space Sciences Research Institute, Open University, UK. 3:Birkbeck College, University of London, UK. 4: Surrey Space Centre, Guildford, UK. 5: Imperial College, London,
UK, 6: University of Leicester, UK. 7: University College London, UK. 8: Lancaster University, UK. 9: Cavendish Laboratory, Cambridge, UK. 11: University of Aberystwyth, UK. 12: Istituto di Fisica dello Spazio Interplanetario-INAF, Roma, Italy. 13: DLR,
Berlin, Germany. 14: Institute of Microelectronics and Microsystem-CNR, Roma, Italy. 15: Université Paris, France. 16: Centro de Astrobiologia-INTA-CSIC, España. 17: Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP), Trieste, Italy. 18:
DLR, Bremen, Germany. 19: Joint Institute for VLBI in Europe (JIVE), Dwingeloo, The Netherlands. 20: IWF, Space Research Institute, Graz, Austria. 21: Royal Observatory, Belgium
Biosignatures on Exoplanets Workshop – Mulhouse, France. June 25 2009 MSSL/UCL UK
ContentsContents
Mission to EuropaMission to Europa EuropaEuropa PenetratorsPenetrators InstrumentsInstruments AstrobiologyAstrobiology ConclusionsConclusions
Biosignatures on Exoplanets Workshop – Mulhouse, France. June 25 2009 MSSL/UCL UK
Mission to EuropaMission to Europa EuropaEuropa PenetratorsPenetrators InstrumentsInstruments AstrobiologyAstrobiology ConclusionsConclusions
ContentsContents
Biosignatures on Exoplanets Workshop – Mulhouse, France. June 25 2009 MSSL/UCL UK
Biosignatures on Exoplanets Workshop – Mulhouse, France. June 25 2009 MSSL/UCL UK
Mission to Europa
EJSM – joint ESA/NASA mission to Jovian system. JEO – Jupiter/Europa Orbiter (NASA element) launch nominally 2020 arrive Europa 2028 observe 9 months (heavy radiation)
may include penetrators…
Biosignatures on Exoplanets Workshop – Mulhouse, France. June 25 2009 MSSL/UCL UK
Biosignatures on Exoplanets Workshop – Mulhouse, France. June 25 2009 MSSL/UCL UK
Descent Module release from Orbiter
Reorient
Spin-up & Decelerate
Penetrator Separation
Penetrator & PDS Penetrator & PDS surface Impactsurface Impact
Spin-Down
Penetrator deliveryPenetrator delivery
Delivery sequence courtesy SSTL Operate from Operate from
below surfacebelow surface
Biosignatures on Exoplanets Workshop – Mulhouse, France. June 25 2009 MSSL/UCL UK
Europa
•
Astrobiology potential ? • atmosphere – trace Oxygen (10-12 Earth)• surface material - water ice• strong tidal forces• subsurface ocean ? subsurface ocean ? • rocky ocean floor bottomrocky ocean floor bottom • habitable ?habitable ?• life ?life ?
Basic parameters• mass : 0.7 Moon• surface gravity : 0.8 Moon• radius : 0.9 Moon• orbital period : 3.5 day• surface temp : 40-120K• surface radiation : Mrads
Biosignatures on Exoplanets Workshop – Mulhouse, France. June 25 2009 MSSL/UCL UK
Japanese Lunar-AContinuous launch delays
Several paper studies
surface features
Biosignatures on Exoplanets Workshop – Mulhouse, France. June 25 2009 MSSL/UCL UK
10Km
high resolution
Biosignatures on Exoplanets Workshop – Mulhouse, France. June 25 2009 MSSL/UCL UK
Accessing Astrobiological Material
upwelled material available in striations from ocean beneath (may contain astrobiological material)
evidence of sulphates in striations.
young surface: 5-60 Ma(minimise radiation and meteroid damage)
but surface mostly very rough
Image from Proctor (JHU), Patterson (APL) & Senske (JPL) (2009, Europa Lander Workshop, Moscow)
Biosignatures on Exoplanets Workshop – Mulhouse, France. June 25 2009 MSSL/UCL UKFrom Proctor (JHU), Patterson (APL) & Senske (JPL) (2009, Europa Lander Workshop, Moscow)
Biosignatures on Exoplanets Workshop – Mulhouse, France. June 25 2009 MSSL/UCL UK
Impact Site Characteristics
Feature TypeYoung
?Upwelled material ?
Flat /
smooth ?
Ridges & troughsyes
many? no
Bands no yes no
Chaos & Lenticulae yes yessome areas
Impact features yes yes no
Based on Proctor (JHU), Patterson (APL) & Senske (JPL) (2009, Europa Lander Workshop, Moscow)
Biosignatures on Exoplanets Workshop – Mulhouse, France. June 25 2009 MSSL/UCL UK
Vertical exagguration x20.Vertical height ~ 1km.Landing ellipse ~5km into smooth area, equatorial
From Proctor (JHU), Patterson (APL) & Senske (JPL) (2009, Europa Lander Workshop, Moscow)
Biosignatures on Exoplanets Workshop – Mulhouse, France. June 25 2009 MSSL/UCL UK
Penetrators
Biosignatures on Exoplanets Workshop – Mulhouse, France. June 25 2009 MSSL/UCL UK
Micropenetrator & InstrumentsMicropenetrator & Instruments
• Low mass [~5-15Kg] • Very tough [~100-500m/s, impact ~10-50kgee]• Perform science from below surface [~0.5-few m]
Example Payload (~2kg)Example Payload (~2kg) Science Capability Science Capability
Micro seismometers(radio beacon, magnetometer)
sub-surface ocean, inner body structuretectonics, cryovulcanism
Chemistry package (mass spect.) organics and inorganics
Soil/environment package (accel, magnetometer,therm,...)
soil mechanical properties, thermal & electrical properties
Sample imager/astrobiology camera
Mineralogy, UV DNA flouresence
Descent camera impact site context & PR
~20-60cms
Biosignatures on Exoplanets Workshop – Mulhouse, France. June 25 2009 MSSL/UCL UK
Post ImpactPost Impact
Target area of upwelled material (astrobiology)Target area of upwelled material (astrobiology) ~0.5 to few metres below surface (reduced radiation)~0.5 to few metres below surface (reduced radiation) 2 penetrators - derisk/improve performance2 penetrators - derisk/improve performance Lifetime: few hours (geochemistry/astrobiology, soil Lifetime: few hours (geochemistry/astrobiology, soil
properties) to few orbits (seismic measurements)properties) to few orbits (seismic measurements)
Biosignatures on Exoplanets Workshop – Mulhouse, France. June 25 2009 MSSL/UCL UK
Instruments and TRLInstruments and TRL Previous Mars96, DS2, Lunar-A developmentsPrevious Mars96, DS2, Lunar-A developments UK currently developing technology for lunar UK currently developing technology for lunar
missionmission Most instruments have existing space heritage.Most instruments have existing space heritage. + successful full scale impact trial in UK.+ successful full scale impact trial in UK.
Micro-seismometer Imperial College(ExoMars)
Prototype,
ruggedized ion trap
mass-spectrometer
Open University
(Rosetta)
Biosignatures on Exoplanets Workshop – Mulhouse, France. June 25 2009 MSSL/UCL UK
Impact trial – internal architectureImpact trial – internal architecture
Radiation sensor
MagnetometersBatteries
Mass spectrometer
Micro-seismometers
Drill assembly
AccelerometersPowerInterconnectionProcessing
Accelerometers, ThermometerBatteries,Data logger
Biosignatures on Exoplanets Workshop – Mulhouse, France. June 25 2009 MSSL/UCL UK
Trial Hardware Trial Hardware
Inners Stack
Biosignatures on Exoplanets Workshop – Mulhouse, France. June 25 2009 MSSL/UCL UK
Impact Trial - ConfigurationImpact Trial - Configuration
Rocket sledRocket sled PenetratorPenetrator
Biosignatures on Exoplanets Workshop – Mulhouse, France. June 25 2009 MSSL/UCL UK
TargetTarget
Dry sandDry sand 2m x2m x6m2m x2m x6m Small front entrance aperture (polythene)Small front entrance aperture (polythene)
Biosignatures on Exoplanets Workshop – Mulhouse, France. June 25 2009 MSSL/UCL UK
Real-Time Impact Video
Biosignatures on Exoplanets Workshop – Mulhouse, France. June 25 2009 MSSL/UCL UK
FiringFiring
Biosignatures on Exoplanets Workshop – Mulhouse, France. June 25 2009 MSSL/UCL UK
Astrobiology
Biosignatures on Exoplanets Workshop – Mulhouse, France. June 25 2009 MSSL/UCL UK
Any life on Europa??
Comets deliver organicsRadiation from Jupiter’s
magnetosphere forms oxidants at surface that
could be used as food source
10cm radiation danger
Clinging life forms could use food brought by current
Photosynthetic plants could take advantage of sunlight
Floating forms could move up and down with the tides
Strong daily tidal currents
Warm ocean
Habitable zone
Image: University of Arizona, Lunar and Planetary Laboratory
Adapted from ‘Biogeochemistry of the Europa icy surface’, by Katarina Miljkovic, OU Feb’07
Biosignatures on Exoplanets Workshop – Mulhouse, France. June 25 2009 MSSL/UCL UK
Another model…Adapted from K.Hand et. al. Moscow’09, who adapted it from Figueredo et al. 2003
1. habital zone on ocean floor adjacent to nutrients
2. communication of life forms to surface
3. astrobiological spectral signatures
Biosignatures on Exoplanets Workshop – Mulhouse, France. June 25 2009 MSSL/UCL UK
Astrobiology Signatures ?
Presence of habitat Body image and motion Organic chemical inventory and proportions Isotopic ratios (sulphur) (weak spectral component )
Spectral signatures (complex)
Biosignatures on Exoplanets Workshop – Mulhouse, France. June 25 2009 MSSL/UCL UK
Astrobiology Investigations
Microseismometers/Radio beacon/Magnetometer - Determine existence and characterise potentially habitable subsurface ocean.
Chemical sensing – via sample acquisition or e.g. stand-off laser ablation (mass spectrometer, quartz micro-balance and electronic noses, etc…)– mass spec can determine presence of organic molecules and their relative
abundances. – mass spec can determine 32S/34S isotopic ratio which is expected to have
quite different value whether origin is biological or geological.(very difficult to detectable spectrally)
Spectral sensing – remote (but close) chemical determination.(don’t yet have candidate instrument for spectral signal !) Raman.
Astrobiology imager – view either remote or acquired sample. Image life forms but more likely look for uv fluorescence (RNA/DNA)
Biosignatures on Exoplanets Workshop – Mulhouse, France. June 25 2009 MSSL/UCL UK
Questions ?Questions ?
What does discovery of a rejected grant application What does discovery of a rejected grant application form mean ?form mean ?
How many different measurements to prove life ?How many different measurements to prove life ? What are best measurements to make to prove life ?What are best measurements to make to prove life ? 2 penetrators better than 1 ?2 penetrators better than 1 ?
Biosignatures on Exoplanets Workshop – Mulhouse, France. June 25 2009 MSSL/UCL UK
Conclusions Earth is only body currently known to contain life... Detection of biosignatures on Europa or exoplanet could
inform other field. Detection of life on Europa or exoplanet could inform other
field. Heavy surface radiation is not necessarily an impediment to
life. Penetrators may also detect biosignatures on other planetary
bodies (e.g. Moon, Mars). Are there any other commonalities/useful connections with in-
situ search for astrobiological signals ? Good luck with hunting astrobiology signals from exoplanets !
Biosignatures on Exoplanets Workshop – Mulhouse, France. June 25 2009 MSSL/UCL UK
- End -- End -
http://www.mssl.ucl.ac.uk/planetary/missions/Micro_Penetrators.php