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2010 Annual Science Report

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory - Icy Worlds Reporting  |  SEP 2009 – AUG 2010

Executive Summary

Our goal in the Astrobiology of the Icy Worlds Investigation is to advance our understanding of the role of ice in the broad context of astrobiology through a combined laboratory, numerical, analytical, and field investigations. Icy Worlds team will pursue this goal through four major investigations namely, the habitability, survivability, and detectability of life of icy worlds coupled with “Path to Flight” Technology demonstrations.

A search for life linked to the search for water should naturally “follow the ice”. Can life emerge and thrive in a cold, lightless world beneath hundreds of kilometers of ice? And if so, do the icy shells hold clues to life in the subsurface? These questions are the primary motivation of our science investigations which are as follows:

  • Habitability of Icy Worlds investigates the habitability of liquid water environments in icy worlds, with a focus on what processes may give ...

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Field Sites
19 Institutions
4 Project Reports
53 Publications
2 Field Sites
Roadmap
Objectives

Project Reports

  • Path to Flight

    Our technology investigation, a Path to Flight for astrobiology, utilizes instrumentation built with non-NAI funding to carry out three science investigations namely habitability, survivability and detectability of life. The search for life requires instruments and techniques that can detect biosignatures from orbit and in-situ under harsh conditions. Advancing this capacity is the focus of our Technology Investigation.

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1.1 1.2 2.1 2.2 3.1 3.2 7.1 7.2
  • Survivability of Icy Worlds

    As part of our Survivability of icy Worlds investigation, we examine the similarities and differences between the abiotic chemistry of planetary ices irradiated with ultraviolet photons (UV), electrons, and ions, and the chemistry of biomolecules exposed to similar conditions. Can the chemical products resulting from these two scenarios be distinguished? Can viable microbes persist after exposure to such conditions? These are motivating questions for our investigation.

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 2.2 3.2 5.1 5.3 7.1 7.2
  • Detectability of Life

    Detectability of Life investigates the detectability of chemical and biological signatures on the surface of icy worlds, with a focus on spectroscopic techniques, and on spectral bands that are not in some way connected to photosynthesis.Detectability of life investigation has three major objectives: Detection of Life in the Laboratory, Detection of Life in the Field, and Detection of Life from Orbit.

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1.2 2.1 2.2 4.1 5.3 6.1 6.2 7.1 7.2
  • Habitability of Icy Worlds

    Habitability of Icy Worlds investigates the habitability of liquid water environments in icy worlds, with a focus on what processes may give rise to life, what processes may sustain life, and what processes may deliver that life to the surface. Habitability of Icy Worlds investigation has three major objectives. Objective 1, Seafloor Processes, explores conditions that might be conducive to originating and supporting life in icy world interiors. Objective 2, Ocean Processes, investigates the formation of prebiotic cell membranes under simulated deep-ocean conditions, and Objective 3, Ice Shell Processes, investigates astrobiological aspects of ice shell evolution.

    ROADMAP OBJECTIVES: 1.1 2.1 2.2 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 4.1 5.1 5.3 6.1 6.2 7.1 7.2

Education & Public Outreach

Publications

  • Adams, H. E., Crump, B. C., & Kling, G. W. (2010). Temperature controls on aquatic bacterial production and community dynamics in arctic lakes and streams. Environmental Microbiology, 12(5), 1319–1333. doi:10.1111/j.1462-2920.2010.02176.x

  • Ball, B. A., Kominoski, J. S., Adams, H. E., Jones, S. E., Kane, E. S., Loecke, T. D., … Solomon, C. T. (2010). Direct and Terrestrial Vegetation-mediated Effects of Environmental Change on Aquatic Ecosystem Processes. BioScience, 60(8), 590–601. doi:10.1525/bio.2010.60.8.5

  • Bhartia, R., Salas, E. C., Hug, W. F., Reid, R. D., Lane, A. L., Edwards, K. J., & Nealson, K. H. (2010). Label-Free Bacterial Imaging with Deep-UV-Laser-Induced Native Fluorescence. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 76(21), 7231–7237. doi:10.1128/aem.00943-10

  • Choukroun, M., Grasset, O., Tobie, G., & Sotin, C. (2010). Stability of methane clathrate hydrates under pressure: Influence on outgassing processes of methane on Titan. Icarus, 205(2), 581–593. doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2009.08.011

  • Davies, A. G., Sotin, C., Matson, D. L., Castillo-Rogez, J., Johnson, T. V., Choukroun, M., & Baines, K. H. (2010). Atmospheric control of the cooling rate of impact melts and cryolavas on Titan’s surface. Icarus, 208(2), 887–895. doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2010.02.025

  • Fortes, A. D., & Choukroun, M. (2010). Phase Behaviour of Ices and Hydrates. Space Sci Rev, 153(1-4), 185–218. doi:10.1007/s11214-010-9633-3

  • Garozzo, M., Fulvio, D., Kanuchova, Z., Palumbo, M. E., & Strazzulla, G. (2009). The fate of S-bearing species after ion irradiation of interstellar icy grain mantles. A&A, 509, A67. doi:10.1051/0004-6361/200913040

  • Hodyss, R., Parkinson, C. D., Johnson, P. V., Stern, J. V., Goguen, J. D., Yung, Y. L., & Kanik, I. (2009). Methanol on Enceladus. Geophysical Research Letters, 36(17), None. doi:10.1029/2009gl039336

  • Johnson, P. V., Hodyss, R., Bolser, D. K., Bhartia, R., Lane, A. L., & Kanik, I. (2011). Ultraviolet-Stimulated Fluorescence and Phosphorescence of Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Water Ice. Astrobiology, 11(2), 151–156. doi:10.1089/ast.2010.0568

  • Lorenz, R., & Sotin, C. (2010). The Moon That Would Be a Planet. Scientific American, 302(3), 36–43. doi:10.1038/scientificamerican0310-36

  • Mielke, R. E., Russell, M. J., Wilson, P. R., McGlynn, S. E., Coleman, M., Kidd, R., & Kanik, I. (2010). Design, Fabrication, and Test of a Hydrothermal Reactor for Origin-of-Life Experiments. Astrobiology, 10(8), 799–810. doi:10.1089/ast.2009.0456

  • Modica, P., & Palumbo, M. E. (2010). Formation of methyl formate after cosmic ion irradiation of icy grain mantles. A&A, 519, A22. doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201014101

  • Nitschke, W., & Russell, M. J. (2009). Hydrothermal Focusing of Chemical and Chemiosmotic Energy, Supported by Delivery of Catalytic Fe, Ni, Mo/W, Co, S and Se, Forced Life to Emerge. Journal of Molecular Evolution, 69(5), 481–496. doi:10.1007/s00239-009-9289-3

  • Parent, P., Bournel, F., Lasne, J., Lacombe, S., Strazzulla, G., Gardonio, S., … Carniato, S. (2009). The irradiation of ammonia ice studied by near edge x-ray absorption spectroscopy. J. Chem. Phys., 131(15), 154308. doi:10.1063/1.3243849

  • Robuchon, G., Choblet, G., Tobie, G., Čadek, O., Sotin, C., & Grasset, O. (2010). Coupling of thermal evolution and despinning of early Iapetus. Icarus, 207(2), 959–971. doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2009.12.002

  • Sohl, F., Choukroun, M., Kargel, J., Kimura, J., Pappalardo, R., Vance, S., & Zolotov, M. (2010). Subsurface Water Oceans on Icy Satellites: Chemical Composition and Exchange Processes. Space Sci Rev, 153(1-4), 485–510. doi:10.1007/s11214-010-9646-y

  • Sokol, E., Noll, R. J., Cooks, R. G., Beegle, L. W., Kim, H. I., & Kanik, I. (2011). Miniature mass spectrometer equipped with electrospray and desorption electrospray ionization for direct analysis of organics from solids and solutions. International Journal of Mass Spectrometry, 306(2-3), 187–195. doi:10.1016/j.ijms.2010.10.019

  • Sparks, W. B., McGrath, M., Hand, K., Ford, H. C., Geissler, P., Hough, J. H., … Turnbull, M. (2010). Hubble Space Telescope observations of Europa in and out of eclipse. International Journal of Astrobiology, 9(04), 265–271. doi:10.1017/s1473550410000285

  • Strazzulla, G., Garozzo, M., & Gomis, O. (2009). The origin of sulfur-bearing species on the surfaces of icy satellites. Advances in Space Research, 43(9), 1442–1445. doi:10.1016/j.asr.2009.01.007

  • Vance, S., Christensen, L. E., Webster, C. R., & Sung, K. (2011). Volatile organic sulfur compounds as biomarkers complementary to methane: Infrared absorption spectroscopy of CH3SH enables insitu measurements on Earth and Mars. Planetary and Space Science, 59(2-3), 299–303. doi:10.1016/j.pss.2010.08.023

  • Adams, H.E. & Priscu, J.C.  (2010).  Temperature responses of polar lake bacteria.
  • Cassidy, T., Coll, P., Raulin, F., Carlson, R.W., Johnson, R.E., Loeffler, M.J., Hand, K.P. & Baragiola, R.A.  (2010, In Press).  Radiolysis and Photolysis in Moons of the Outer Solar System: Exchange Processes Involving the Interiors’.  O. Grassett.
  • Choukroun, M., Kieffer, S., Lu, X. & Tobie, G.  Clathrate Hydrates: implications for exchange processes in the outer Solar System [Book Chapter].  Solar System Ices.
  • Clark, K., Boldt, J., Greeley, R., Hand, K.P., Jun, I., Lock, R., Pappalardo, R.T., Van Houten, T. & Yan, T.  (2009).  Return to Europa: Overview of the Jupiter Europa Orbiter Mission.  Advances in Space Research Special Issue on Europa Lander Workshop.  Moscow, Russia.
  • Cooper, P.D., Do, N. & Ammann, L.M.  (2009).  Preferential Oxidant Accumulation via Re-Deposition of Water Group Species on Icy Satellites.  Fall AGU.  San Francisco CA.
  • Cooper, P.D., Do, N., Strube, A. & Ammann, L.M.  (2010).  Oxidant Loading of Icy Satellite Surfaces by Re-deposition and Subsequent Surface Chemistry.  DPS.  Pasadena CA.
  • Do, N., Strube, A., Ammann, L.M. & Cooper, P.D.  (2010).  A Laboratory Investigation of the Chemistry of Resurfacing on Icy Bodies.  Ap. J.
  • Gleeson, D.F., Amashukeli, X. & Pappalardo, R.T.  (2010).  An investigation into biologically mediated sulfur cycling under simulated Europa ocean conditions.  DPS.
  • Goodman, J.C. & Lenferink, E.  (2009).  Large-eddy Simulations of Europa Hydrothermal Plumes.  Fall AGU Meeting.  San Francisco, CA.
  • Hand, K.P.  (2010).  The ocean of Europa and implications for habitability and the origin of life. Astrobiology: from simple molecules to primitive lif.  Eds. V.A. Basiuk and R. Navarro-Gonzalez.
  • Hand, K.P., Chyba, C.F., Priscu, J.C., Carlson, R.W. & Nealson, K.H.  (2009).  Astrobiology and the Potential for Life on Europa.  In: Pappalardo, R., McKinnon, W. & K., K. (Eds.).  In Europa.  Univ. of AZ Press.
  • Hodyss, R., Howard, H.R., Johnson, P.V., Goguen, J.D. & Kanik, I.  (2010).  Atomic Carbon Chemistry in Photolyzed Triton-Like Ices.  Icarus.
  • Hodyss, R., Kim, H.I., Bolser, D.K., Johnson, P.V., Goguen, J.D. & Kanik, I.  (2010).  Ultraviolet Photolysis of Lipids.  Icarus.
  • Hodyss, R., Parkinson, C.D., Johnson, P.V., Stern, J.V., Goguen, J.D., Yung, Y.L. & Kanik, I.  (2009).  Methanol on Enceladus, American Geophysical Union.  American Geophysical Union (AGU).  San Francisco, California, USA.
  • Hussmann, H., Choblet, G., Lainey, V., Matson, D., Sotin, C. & Tobie, V.H.T.  Internal Processes: Energy Sources and Heat Transport in Icy Satellites; Europlanet vol. on Icy Satellites.
  • Jaumann, R., Kirk, R.L., Lorenz, R., Lopes, R.M.C., Stofan, E., Turtle, E.P., Keller, H.U., Wood, C.A., Sotin, C., Soderblom, L.A. & Tomasko, M.G.  (2009).  Geology and surface processes on Titan.  In: Brown, R.H., Waite, H. & Dougherty, M. (Eds.).  Titan from Cassini-Huygens.  Springer-Verlag.
  • Johnson, P.V., Hodyss, R., Howard, H.R., Goguen, J.D. & Kanik, I.  (2010).  Atomic Carbon Chemistry in Photolyzed Triton-like Ices.  42nd annual meeting of the Division for Planetary Sciences of the American Astronomical Society.  Pasadena, CA, USA.
  • Kanik, I., Beegle, L.W., Johnson, P.V., Hodyss, R. & Young, D.T.  (2010, to be submitted).  Mass spectrometers and other analytical separation devices for planetary applications: a critical review.  Review of Scientific Instruments.
  • Khurana, K.K., Kivelson, M.G., Hand, K.P. & Russell, C.T.  (2009).  Electromagnetic induction from Europa’s ocean and the deep interio.  In: Pappalardo, R., McKinnon, W. & Khurana, K. (Eds.).  Europa.  Univ. of AZ Press.
  • Korablev, O., Gerasimov, M., Dalton, J.B., Hand, K.P., Lebreton & J.-P., W.C.  (2009).  Methods and Measurements to Assess Physical and Geochemical Conditions at the Surface of Europa.  Advances in Space Research Special Issue on Europa Lander Workshop.  Moscow, Russia.
  • Lorenz, R.D., Gleeson, D., Prieto-Ballesteros, Gomez, F., Hand, K.P. & Bulat, S.  (2009).  Analog Environments for a Europa Lander Mission.  Advances in Space Research Special Issue on Europa Lander Workshop.  Moscow, Russia.
  • Lunine, J.I., Choukroun, M., Stevenson, D.J. & Tobie, G.  (2009).  Origin and Evolution of Titan.  In: Brown, R.H., Lebreton, J.P. & Waite, H. (Eds.).  Titan from Cassini-Huygens.  New York, NJ: Springer.
  • Matson, D.L., Castillo-Rogez, J.C., S., G., S.C. & McKinnon, W.B.  (2009).  The Thermal Evolution and Internal Structure of Saturn’s Mid-Sized Icy Satellites.  In: Dougherty, M. (Eds.).  Saturn from Cassini-Huygens.
  • Milner-White, E.J. & Russell, M.J.  (2010).  Polyphosphate-Peptide Synergy and the Organic Takeover at the Emergence of Life.  Journal of Cosmology, 10: 3217-3229.
  • Nitschke, W. & Russell, M.J.  (2010).  Just Like the Universe the Emergence of Life had High Enthalpy and Low Entropy Beginnings.  Journal of Cosmology, 10: 3200-3216.
  • Pearce, M., McKinley, A.J. & Cooper, P.D.  (2010).  Formation of Methanol in Argon Matrices.  Chem. Phys. Phys. Chem.
  • Raulin, F., Hand, K.P., McKay, C., Fortes, D. & Viso, M.  (2010, In Press).  Exobiology, Habitability, and Planetary Protection in Moons of the Outer Solar System: Exchange Processes Involving the Interiors’.  In: Grassett, O. (Eds.).
  • Russell, M.J. & Hall, A.J.  A hydrothermal source of energy and materials a the origin of life [Book Chapter].  Chemical Evolution II: From Origins of Life to Modern Society.
  • Russell, M.J. & Kanik, I.  (2010).  Why Does Life Start, What Does It Do, Where Will It Be, And How Might We Find It?  Journal of Cosmology, 5: 1008-1039.
  • Schubert, G., Hussmann, H., Lainey, V., Matson, D., McKinnon, W., Sohl, F., Sotin, C., Tobie, G., Turrini, D. & Van Hoolst, T.  (2010).  Evolution of the Moons [Book Chapter].  Europlanet vol. on Icy Satellites.
  • Strazzulla, G.  (2010).  Ion Bombardment of astrophysical ices (2010) 24th International Conference on atomic collision in solids.  ICACS-24.  Cracow, Poland.
  • Vance, S. & Goodman, J.  (2009).  Oceanography of an Ice-Covered Moon [Book Chapter].  Europa.  Arizona University Press.
  • Yung, Y.L., Russell, M.J. & Parkinson, C.D.  (2010).  The search for life on Mars.  Journal of Cosmology, 5: 1121-1130.

2010 Teams