A team of researchers from the University of Stuttgart and the Free University of Berlin have announced a significant discovery of organic compounds within the ocean of Saturn’s moon, Enceladus. The findings, based on data collected during a 2008 flyby by NASA’s Cassini spacecraft, suggest the potential for conditions conducive to life.
The research focused on analyzing particles ejected from Enceladus’ icy geysers. During a daring maneuver, Cassini passed within just 21 kilometers (approximately 13 miles) above the moon’s surface, allowing the onboard instruments to sample material directly from these plumes. The spacecraft’s high velocity, reaching speeds of nearly 65,000 kilometers per hour (approximately 40,400 miles per hour), proved crucial in capturing previously undetectable signals of organic molecules.
Among the identified compounds are pyrimidines, which serve as fundamental building blocks of DNA on Earth. This discovery offers invaluable insights for the forthcoming European Space Agency (ESA) mission planned for Saturn’s moon in 2040. Scientists hypothesize that these organic compounds likely originate from hydrothermal activity occurring on the ocean floor of Enceladus, mirroring conditions found on Earth where life has been confirmed. The findings significantly bolster the prospects of future investigations aimed at characterizing the habitability of this fascinating celestial body.