Saturn’s icy moon Enceladus is a subject of fascination for astronomers and scientists due to its underground ocean and the potential for microbial life.
NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) is leading the charge in studying this icy moon, and they have developed a machine called EELS that could provide crucial insights into this enigmatic world.
EELS is a 220-pound and 13-foot-long machine that is designed to fly through the plumes of water vapor that shoot out of Enceladus’ surface. The machine will collect samples of the water vapor and analyze them to determine their chemical composition. This information will provide valuable insights into the subsurface ocean and its potential for life.
One of the most exciting aspects of EELS is its ability to detect complex organic molecules. These molecules are the building blocks of life, and their detection in Enceladus’ plumes would be a strong indication of the presence of microbial life in the subsurface ocean. EELS will also study the plumes’ chemistry and look for other elements that are important for life, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and carbon.
EELS is not the only machine that JPL is developing for Enceladus exploration. The agency is also working on a mission called Enceladus Life Finder (ELF), which will be able to directly sample the plumes and study the subsurface ocean. ELF will be equipped with a drill that can penetrate the ice crust and collect samples from the ocean.
The study of Enceladus is part of NASA’s larger goal of searching for life beyond Earth. With its underground ocean, Enceladus has long been considered one of the most promising targets for astrobiology research. The discovery of microbial life on Enceladus would be a groundbreaking achievement and would provide crucial insights into the origin and evolution of life in our solar system.
The robot is still undergoing extensive testing but engineers hope it will soon independently slither through a variety of planetary and lunar terrains.
In conclusion, the study of Enceladus is an exciting area of research for NASA and JPL. With the development of machines like EELS and ELF, scientists are closer than ever to uncovering the secrets of this enigmatic world. The search for life on Enceladus is a crucial part of NASA’s larger mission to explore the universe and understand our place in it.