Encelado, one of the moons of Saturn, captured by NASA’s Cassini probe
Team says there is current technology to seriously consider the injection of terrestrial microbes into the cold moon of Saturn, Enemy.
What if, instead of looking for life in other worlds, we took her to them?
This is the provocative suggestion of a study in February at Space Policy. More specifically, the responsible team explores the possibility of introducing terrestrial microbes in the ocean of Encardone of the icy moons of.
But after all, for what? Deep down, to see what happens – or how life could be developed in lifeless but considered habitable worlds.
It is considered one of the most promising places of the solar system for the search for extraterrestrial life. Its underground ocean and the presence of essential chemical ingredients for life – both confirmed – support this theory.
Now, the new study proposes that if future missions to that moon confirm that it is sterile, a controlled biological experience could be done in the territory that would briefly pass by sowing microbes and monitor them to better understand how life has appeared and evolved here on Earth.
“The knowledge acquired with the inoculation of the cold oceans of the moon would be especially applicable to the radiation of life in primitive oceans, as could have been the case if life on earth had begun in hydrothermal sources in the depths of the sea,” the researchers explain by.
For investigators, the current technology can already sustain the introduction of life into selected arid moonsas Ene, or even suggest the moon of the same planet, (one of Jupiter’s moons) or (dwarf planet between Mars and Jupiter) – unlike the constant attempt of Mars.
But before we think about it, there are priority issues that are around the ethics of this process: taking a step of this size, humanity could never retreat.
