Central Idea

A re-analysis of data from the Cassini mission has revealed a complex mix of molecules in the gaseous plumes of Saturn’s moon Enceladus.

About Cassini Mission

	Details
Launch Date	October 15, 1997
Mission Agencies	NASA, European Space Agency (ESA), Italian Space Agency (ASI)
Primary Focus	Study of Saturn, its rings, moons, and magnetosphere
Key Objectives	– Study Saturn’s atmosphere – Investigate Saturn’s rings – Detailed studies of Saturn’s moons – Explore Saturn’s magnetosphere
Major Achievements	– Successful landing of the Huygens probe on Titan – Discovery of geysers on Enceladus – Identification of new moons – Detailed analysis of Saturn’s rings
Enceladus Discoveries	– Detection of water-ice geysers erupting from the south pole – Indications of a subsurface ocean – Analysis of organic compounds in the plumes
Significant Milestones	– Jupiter Flyby: December 2000 – Saturn Orbit Insertion: July 1, 2004 – Huygens Titan Landing: January 2005
Mission Duration	1997-2017 (including extended missions)

Cassini’s Initial Discovery: In 2005, the Cassini spacecraft discovered large plumes escaping from Enceladus’s southern hemisphere.
Source of Plumes: These plumes are believed to originate from a subsurface ocean through fissures in the moon’s icy surface.
Initial Molecular Findings: Earlier analyses identified water, carbon dioxide, methane, ammonia, and molecular hydrogen in the plume samples.

Research Team: Led by Jonah Peter from the California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California.
Methodology: The team re-examined data using a statistical analysis technique, comparing it against a vast library of known mass spectra.
Newly Identified Molecules: The analysis revealed the presence of hydrocarbons like hydrogen cyanide (HCN), acetylene (C2H2), propylene (C3H6), ethane (C2H6), along with methanol and molecular oxygen.

Definite Presence of Nitrogen: The study confirmed the presence of nitrogen in the form of HCN, resolving previous uncertainties due to overlapping signals in mass spectrometry data.
Potential for Habitability: The diverse chemical reservoir under Enceladus’s surface suggests conditions that might be consistent with a habitable environment.
Support for Microbial Life: The presence of these compounds, along with mineralogical catalysts and redox gradients, could potentially support microbial communities or complex organic synthesis.
Caveat on Life Support: The ability of these compounds to support life depends on their concentration in Enceladus’s subsurface ocean.