Dramatic Activity Detected on Saturn Moon

March 20, 2006 -- NASA’s Cassini spacecraft detected a dramatic event on one of Saturn’s icy moons – an eruption that ejected water and carbon-based ice crystals thousands of miles out of Enceladus’ atmosphere and ultimately into one of Saturn’s rings. The eruption's composition and proposed localization in a fissure suggests the presence of water near the moon’s surface and an environment potentially suitable for living organisms.

Typically, small satellites do not have geologic activity. But Enceladus, though only 300 miles in diameter, possesses regions with high levels of activity. Observations of the south pole reveal a smooth surface, covered by fresh snow and ice flows from geyser-like activity. Tidal forces also rupture the moon’s surface and create deep canyons and surface fissures. Further, a warm region found near the recent eruption indicates the presence of a heat source under the icy surface.

Several recent National Research Council reports address space exploration. New Frontiers in the Solar System: An Integrated Exploration Strategy provides guidelines for prioritizing space exploration programs and suggests that moons with large reservoirs of water may provide insight into potential environments capable of sustaining life in the solar system and beyond. Life in the Universe: An Assessment of U.S. and International Programs in Astrobiology recommends specific steps to successfully integrate space exploration programs with efforts to find cosmic environments suitable for living organisms.

• New Frontiers in the Solar System: An Integrated Exploration Strategy (2003)
• Life in the Universe: An Assessment of U.S. and International Programs in Astrobiology (2003)

• NASA’s Cassini Mission