HR: 12:10h
AN: B51G-08 INVITED     [PDF]
TI: The astrobiology of Titan
AU: * Lunine, J I
EM: jlunine@lpl.arizona.edu
AF: The University of Arizona, 1629 E University Blvd., Tucson, AZ 85721 United States
AB: The known organic environments in the solar system other than the Earth and certain meteorites are in the outer solar system. Those of astrobiological potential are Europa, Titan, and comets. Titan is of interest because its nitrogen-methane atmosphere generates hydrocarbons and nitriles which fall to the surface and are protected from damaging particle and UV radiation by a thick atmosphere. Further chemistry, including in the presence of transient and localized areas of cryovolcanic- or impact-generated liquid water, may proceed on the surface in staccato fashion over geologic time. The Cassini-Huygens mission will initiate the detailed exploration of Titan in 2004, and this fall NASA solicited mission concepts for post Cassini-Huygens missions to Titan. A focus group on the astrobiological exploration of Titan has been founded by the NASA Astrobiology Institute under the leadership of the author. It will provide science rationales from an astrobiological perspective on the future exploration of Titan, i.e. beyond Cassini-Huygens, through electronic discussions and workshops. Early results of the Focus Group will be described in this talk.
UR: http://www.nai.arc.nasa.gov/institute/focus_groups.cfm
DE: 5764 Surfaces
DE: 6022 Impact phenomena
DE: 6207 Comparative planetology
DE: 6275 Saturn
DE: 6280 Saturnian satellites
SC: Biogeosciences [B]
MN: 2003 Fall Meeting