Agnostic Biosignature Exploration at Europa through Plume Sampling
Whitepaper #059 submitted to the Planetary Science and Astrobiology Decadal Survey 2023-2032. Topics: habitability and water; life and prebiotic organics; ocean worlds
by Paul Mahaffy, Margaret Weng, Ricardo Arevalo, Mehdi Benna, Roger Summons, Will Brinckerhoff, Morgan Cable, Kathleen Craft, Jen Eigenbrode, Bill Farrell, James Garvin, John Grunsfeld, Alexis Templeton, Sarah Johnson, Tori Hoehler, Alison Murray, and William Sparks
Published onMar 18, 2021
Agnostic Biosignature Exploration at Europa through Plume Sampling
To cast the widest net for life detection, it is essential to utilize agnostic biosignature detection methods that do not assume that extraterrestrial life has followed the same chemical evolution pathway as terrestrial life. A mission to search for life in the plumes of Europa would use these protocols and complement other ocean world missions.
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC-BY 4.0)
