NASA is studying cryobots to explore ocean worlds like Europa and Enceladus.
NASA's Juno spacecraft has found evidence of organic compounds on Jupiter's moon Ganymede, suggesting the possibility of an underground ocean.
NASA's exploration of ocean worlds is taking a significant leap forward with the study of cryobots, self-contained probes designed to melt through the icy crusts of celestial bodies such as Europa and Enceladus. These cryobots are equipped with a nuclear power system, thermal management system, mobility system, and communication system to operate effectively.
In parallel, NASA's Juno spacecraft has been gathering intriguing data from Jupiter's moon Ganymede. The data, collected during a flyby in July 2021, revealed the presence of organic compounds, including hydrated sodium chloride, ammonium chloride, sodium bicarbonate, and fatty aldehydes. These findings suggest the possibility of an underground ocean on Ganymede, potentially up to 100 km deep, which is ten times deeper than Earth's ocean.
The presence of these organic materials and sodium salts in Ganymede's interior indicates the potential for hydrothermal activity, possibly resulting from extensive water-rock interactions. However, other possibilities have not been ruled out. Further studies are needed to understand the complexity of Ganymede's atmosphere and ionosphere, which include additional particle species and ionization mechanisms.
These discoveries are part of a broader effort to understand the potential for life in our solar system beyond Earth. The presence of water and organic compounds on these celestial bodies opens up exciting possibilities for future exploration and study.
The study considered five model configurations that successively increased the complexity of Ganymede's atmosphere and ionosphere by including additional particle species and ionization mechanisms.
The study found that Ganymede's internal dipole dominated the magnetic field signature observed inside the moon's magnetosphere, while plasma currents shaped the field perturbations within the 'wake' region detected along the Jupiter-averted magnetopause.
The researchers suggest that extensive water-rock interactions could be responsible for this activity and the presence of sodium salts in Ganymede's interior.
However, other possibilities have not been ruled out.