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. 2017 Oct;17(10):958-961.
doi: 10.1089/ast.2016.1621. Epub 2017 Oct 11.

Instrumentation for Testing Whether the Icy Moons of the Gas and Ice Giants Are Inhabited

Julian Chela-Flores  1   2
Affiliations

Instrumentation for Testing Whether the Icy Moons of the Gas and Ice Giants Are Inhabited

Julian Chela-Flores. Astrobiology. 2017 Oct.

Abstract

Evidence of life beyond Earth may be closer than we think, given that the forthcoming missions to the jovian system will be equipped with instruments capable of probing Europa's icy surface for possible biosignatures, including chemical biomarkers, despite the strong radiation environment. Geochemical biomarkers may also exist beyond Europa on icy moons of the gas giants. Sulfur is proposed as a reliable geochemical biomarker for approved and forthcoming missions to the outer solar system. Key Words: JUICE mission-Clipper mission-Geochemical biomarkers-Europa-Moons of the ice giants-Geochemistry-Mass spectrometry. Astrobiology 17, 958-961.

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