JpGU-AGU Joint Meeting 2017

Presentation information

[EE] Poster

B (Biogeosciences) » B-CG Complex & General

[B-CG08] [EE] From Deep Sea to Deep Space: the Solar System Ocean World Exploration to Search for Life

Tue. May 23, 2017 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM Poster Hall (International Exhibition Hall HALL7)

convener:Hajime Yano(Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency), Christophe Sotin(Jet Propulsion Laboratory), Ken Takai(Extremobiosphere Research Center, Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science & Technology)

[BCG08-P03] Analytical Assessment of Intact Capture Capability for Possible Biological Sigantures within Icy Plume Particles by Using Hydrophilic and Hydrophobic Aerogels

*Sota Numaho1,2,3, Yoshinori Takano2, Wataru Takahagi2,3,4, Kosuke Fujisima6,3, Masaru Tomita3, Ken Takai2,6, Hajime Yano2,5 (1.Department of Environment and Information Studies, Keio University, Fujisawa, Japan, 2. Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology, Yokosuka, Japan , 3. Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Keio University, Tsuruoka, Japan , 4.Graduate School of Media and Governance, Keio University, Fujisawa, Japan, 5. Institute for Space and Astronautical Science, Japan Aerospace eXploration Agency, Sagamihara, Japan, 6. Earth-Life Science Institute, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Ookayama, Japan)

Keywords:Icy moon, Aerogel, Sample return mission, Astrobiology

Cassini Spacecraft’s Ion Neutral Mass Spectrometry (INMS) and Cosmic Dust Analyzer (CDA) have provided significant scientific data regarding Saturn’s icy moon Enceladus and its ongoing plume activity. Scientific evidences have put constraints on environmental parameters for the subsurface ocean. However regarding life detection, current on-board space mission instruments rely solely on destructive analytical techniques. By targeting the Enceladus plume, we propose a new astrobiology oriented life detection mission concept using silica aerogel for development of sample capture, in situ analysis and sample return technologies. Silica aerogel is a super low density amorphous SiO2 (density range between 0.01 g/cm3 and 0.03 g/cm3) and has optical transparency and low thermal conductivity (0.017 W/mK). These features of silica aerogel are expected to be suitable for non-destructive and non-invasive capture of samples. In this research, we compare the ability of organic sample capture in two different types (hydrophilic and hydrophobic) of aerogel. Currently new aerogel capture system is under development and thus we will discuss advantages and current problems of this system including the application for future space missions related to biosignature detection from the icy moons.