NAI
2009 Annual Science Report
NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory - Titan
Reporting | JUL 2008 – AUG 2009
Executive Summary
This summary covers the first six months of the JPL-Titan team, hereinafter the NAI Titan team, activities since the initiation of funding. Some members of this team were funded for only three months of this reporting period.
A series of coupled model simulations and novel laboratory experiments comprise the core research program of the NAI Titan team. The objective of this coordinated research is to understand the extent to which processes that could be active currently in Titan could lead to the formation of significant prebiotic molecular compounds, to be defined hereinafter as being composed of atoms of hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen. These processes might have been important in the early Earth environment and be on the path to the formation of life.
During this initial reporting period, two research themes—“Titan’s geology—places where organic chemistry can operate” and “The complexity of atmospheric ... Continue reading.
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Mark Allen
NAI, ASTEP, ASTID, Exobiology -
TEAM Active Dates:
2/2009 - 1/2015 CAN 5 -
Members:
13 (See All) - Visit Team Page
Project Reports
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Task 3.3 Solubility of Organics in Methane
Liquid methane can serve as a solvent medium in which organic chemistry may occur in sites on the Titan surface.
ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1.1 2.2 3.1 3.2 3.3 -
Task 3.1 Reactions of Organics With Ices and Mineral Grains
The formation of prebiotic chemical compounds on the Titan surface may be catalyzed by the presence of mineral grains.
ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1.1 2.2 3.1 3.2 3.3 -
Task 2.2.2.3 Aerosol Photoprocessing and Analysis
Organic aerosols produced in the laboratory can be photoprocessed to simulate actual Titan tholin-producing chemistry.
ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1.1 2.2 3.1 3.2 3.3 -
Task 2.1.2 Atmospheric State and Dynamics
An understanding of the structure of the Titan atmosphere provides the context for the formation of complex organic compounds in the atmosphere.
ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1.1 2.2 3.1 3.2 3.3 -
Task 1.1.1 Numerical Simulation of the Mixing of Organics and Ice During an Impact
On the Titan surface, organics can mix and react with liquid water created during an impact. A model simulation of an impact on the Titan surface will be used to estimate how long liquid water might exist after an impact, which will suggest how much reaction-forming prebiotic compounds may have occurred.
ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1.1 2.2 3.1 3.2 3.3 -
Task 1.1.2 Models of the Internal Dynamics: Formation of Liquids in the Subsurface and Relationships With Cryovolcanism
Prebiotic compounds can be formed on the Titan surface when organics mix and react with liquid water in a cryovolcanic context, where subsurface water “erupts” onto the cold surface.
ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1.1 2.2 3.1 3.2 3.3 -
Task 1.2 Interaction of Methane/ethane With Water Ice
The degree of mixing on the Titan surface between liquid hydrocarbons and the icy water surface establishes a potential for reactions that could form prebiotic compounds.
ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1.1 2.2 3.1 3.2 3.3 -
Task 2.1.3 Aerosol Nucleation and Growth
Organic macromolecular aerosols in the Titan atmosphere may contribute to the orange haze seen in the visible spectrum and can serve as the initial stage of prebiotic chemistry on Titan.
ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1.1 2.2 3.1 3.2 3.3 -
Task 2.2.1 Characterization of Aerosol Nucleation and Growth
Aerosol nucleation in the Titan atmosphere may form the orange material seen in visible images.
ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1.1 2.2 3.1 3.2 3.3 -
Task 2.2.2.1 Ultraviolet/infrared Spectroscopy of Ice Films
Condensed phase chemistry in organic aerosols can produce large organic macromolecules.
ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1.1 2.2 3.1 3.2 3.3 -
The Commonality of Life in the Universe
Is life a common outcome of physical and chemical processes in the universe? Around other stars, Titan-like environments are key astrobiology targets.
ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1.1 2.2 3.1 3.2 3.3
Education & Public Outreach
Publications
- There are no publications for this team in the 2009 annual report.
2009 Teams
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Arizona State University
Carnegie Institution of Washington
Georgia Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Montana State University
NASA Ames Research Center
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory - Icy Worlds
NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory - Titan
Pennsylvania State University
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
University of California, Berkeley
University of Colorado, Boulder
University of Hawaii, Manoa
University of Wisconsin
VPL at University of Washington