And I thought it would be Titan

[leahiniowa]

Saturn Moon Has Geysers, Hinting Life Is a Possibility

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By KENNETH CHANG
Published: March 10, 2006
With newly discovered signs of liquid water, a moon of Saturn joins the small, highly select group of places in the solar system that could plausibly support life.

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NASA/Jet Propulsion Laboratory/Space Science Institute
Enceladus, Saturn's fourth-largest moon, is only 300 miles wide.

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NASA/Jet Propulsion Laboratory/Space Science Institute
NASA's Cassini spacecraft has spotted plumes of icy crystals shooting off Enceladus near its south pole, seen in this enhanced image. That suggests pockets of liquid water exist near the surface, and makes the moon a new target in the search for life in the solar system.
The moon, Enceladus, is only 300 miles wide, and usually something that small is nothing more than a frozen chunk of ice and rock. Instead, NASA's Cassini spacecraft has spotted eruptions of icy crystals, which hint at pockets of liquid water near the surface.

"It's startling," said Carolyn C. Porco of the Space Science Institute in Boulder, Colo., leader of the imaging team for Cassini. Nine scientific papers about Enceladus (pronounced en-SELL-ah-dus), appear in today's issue of Science. "I wouldn't be surprised to see the planetary community clamoring for a future exploratory expedition to land on the south polar terrain of Enceladus," said Dr. Porco, lead author of one of the papers. "We have found an environment that is potentially suitable for living organisms."



I'm surprised! I suppose I'm thinking w/in the box, but I assumed it would be more likely to find life on a planet/moon with an atmosphere! Besides, this is a TINY moon!

Now Nasa is calling for more funds for manned (humanned?) and robotic exploration of this moon.

I find it so frustrating that we seem to have stunted our space exploration in many ways. Of course, the safety factor and sophistication of lifestyle have improved.

Do you think it would be worth it to take more risks with safety in order to explore farther? Or are you satisfied that they are perfecting the technique in earth orbit in order to use this technology for further exploration in the future? Or do you think that this is just a stalling tactic to satisfy those of us who are space-mad?

[Keita]

Mmmm. I saw the pic PoppaWolf posted in the Willet. Astonishing! :bouncy: I'd LOVE to know what's providing the heat to keep the water in liquid form on such a tiny moon.

I think a manned mission to that moon is a LONG way off. Hell, we haven't even reached Mars yet, so calling for funding to explore it is just good PR if you ask me. Or if you want to think less cynically, long range planning.

[leahiniowa]

We're WAY overdue for a moonbase AND a visit to Mars, IMO.

[Ryuu]

I'm surprised! I suppose I'm thinking w/in the box, but I assumed it would be more likely to find life on a planet/moon with an atmosphere! Besides, this is a TINY moon!

Now Nasa is calling for more funds for manned (humanned?) and robotic exploration of this moon.

I find it so frustrating that we seem to have stunted our space exploration in many ways. Of course, the safety factor and sophistication of lifestyle have improved.

Do you think it would be worth it to take more risks with safety in order to explore farther? Or are you satisfied that they are perfecting the technique in earth orbit in order to use this technology for further exploration in the future? Or do you think that this is just a stalling tactic to satisfy those of us who are space-mad?I was thinking it was going to be Titan, too. But with no means to see through the clouds and measure any water vapor there, it makes sense that it would be one of Saturn's other moons.

In regards to your comments on finding life, they're thinking that life might exist in the water below the ice on Jupiter's moon, Europa--& it doesn't have an atmosphere.

It's our politicians who've slashed so much of the NASA budget that they're barely able to operate. Bush did some major cuts in next year's proposed budget--but then, his poposed budget cuts nearly EVERY part of government spending, most of it very much needed to be cut. However, for decades, it was Congressional action that slashed apart NASA's funding, even as far back as the Apollo missions--all the while, those self-same Congressmen were reaping the benefits from the quality-of-life improvements that came from space research :irked:

I think it would be worth the risks involved to do more manned missions. So much of our lives here on the planet have been improved by technology and research directly traceable to the space program, and not just communications and computer advances--anyone here who lived through the 1960's & '70's should remember how much things changed and improved over so many fields of life.:good:

[scentman]

We're WAY overdue for a moonbase AND a visit to Mars, IMO.


Yeah! Where are they? On the boulevard of shattered dreams.

In the 60's when I was growing up 'most' toys and books were oriented to the colonization of space - we were supposed to have a moon base and civilian space stations by the 1990's, perhaps even bo exploring other stars by now. I remember going to see '2001: A Space Odyssey" when it came out with my cub scout troop. I thought "Wow - by the time I grow up I'll be able to take a vacation on the Moon!" NOT!

There was also Star Wars, Star Trek, Battlestar Galactica, Space 1999, Lost in Space, I Dream of Jeannie, a host of 50's B movies, and many more. IMHO it's pathetic how politics sabotages long range dreams for incredibly short range crisises, even though it was Cold War politics that caused the Space Race Dream in the first place!

Anywho! They can do some PR to get the dream back on track - as has been said before - You can't stay in the cradle forever, it's time to leave the Cradle and reach for the stars (before we run out of fuel:razz: )

[cosmic dancer]

A manned mission is a very long way off. It's been over 30 years since we even put a man on the moon, and that doesn't look lioke being repeated anytime soon. I would far rather see humans on Mars than a distant moon.

Most sensible option would seem to be to send a probe to orbit the planet to collect as much info as possible and if it looks possible to land, then a robotic lander.

[Ryuu]

A manned mission is a very long way off. It's been over 30 years since we even put a man on the moon, and that doesn't look lioke being repeated anytime soon. I would far rather see humans on Mars than a distant moon.

Most sensible option would seem to be to send a probe to orbit the planet to collect as much info as possible and if it looks possible to land, then a robotic lander.I don't think it will take China very long to get to the moon.

The US, otoh....:erm:

[leahiniowa]

I was glad to see China enter the Space Age. Maybe it will spur the US.

I read an article on Yahoo News about how the earth does not have enough metals to keep up with our technological demands, even with recycling and mining landfills.

So where to go, where to go?

Uhhh . . . . the asteroid belt?

In fact, I read a recent article somewhere (shoot, can't remember where now) promoting mining the asteroid belt. Of course, people here will probably be for it, and see the use of it.

My plan? Invest in precious metals now, and tell the kids to sell that and invest in JPL and places like that when they look like they're getting close to getting out there.

[toadkiller]

Actually if we would discard the rush to the spot, plant a flag, and rush home mentality of Apollo we could see a steady movement across the solar system. Not fast, but once we got somewhere we'd stay.

The problem is that our society doesn't seem capable of taking an other than short term view.

[Bronze-Dragonrider]

Hmmm... I'd rather see some sort of mining project than just an expidition to see if there's some bacterial life on a moon halway across the solar system. What good does that information do? They spend billions of dollars for "Woohoo! We found that it has microorganisms!" seriously, it seems like a waste to me. A mining project has more of a practical application plus a possible payoff, if it were possible.

[leahiniowa]

I agree with both of you. But it would be good to get SOMETHING to spur the interest in non-robotic exploration and colonized bases on the moon, Mars and in cislunar space. I mean, more than the ISS.

[T'ley]

We're WAY overdue for a moonbase AND a visit to Mars, IMO.
majorly

[Greenrider Tresa]

Wow! I hope they do find out more about that moon!

[Wolfegar]

Mmmm. I saw the pic PoppaWolf posted in the Willet. Astonishing! :bouncy: I'd LOVE to know what's providing the heat to keep the water in liquid form on such a tiny moon.

*Snippys.*
For those who have not seen the picture yet, just follow the bouncing smilie. :bouncy: (http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap060310.html)

I think an International Moon Base and later an International Mars Base would not only be cool, but necessary if the human race is ever going to have a chance to explore the stars with technology other than telescopes based in our own solar system or the occasional probe that ends up leaving the solar system like the Voyagers.

I am disappointed that we don't already have a moon base of some sort. When younger, after watching all of the Apollo launches and the Shuttle launches I thought by 2001 there would be a moon base. So far, nothing of the sort.

(Personal Trivia: When I was younger, I said I'd be willing to go into space even if the only thing I could do for the crew was set the VCR clocks. :laugh: )

[cosmic dancer]

:laugh: I love your personal trivia Wolfie! I've always wanted to go to Mars, I've been fascinated by the planet for years. I am a scientist, so in principle would be able to help with research. Alas I know it will never happen, but it doesn't dull my interest in space and Mars in particular. :)

Although lots of people would love an international moon-base to exist, since as far as I'm aware there are minimal plans for one currently, it looks like any such base is a long way off. I feel that until we can establish a sustainable colony on the relative safety of the moon, it is unwise to attempt such a feat on Mars. If anything goes wrong on the moon, help could theoretically arrive in a week or two. Whereas Mars is at least 6 months journey away and the exact time depends on the position of the two planets.

As to sending humans to moons that are barely even charted, I'll be amazed if it happens in my lifetime. Asteriod mining by robots might. Craft have landed on asteriods, so that is at least theoretically possible. Whether it is even remotely financially viable or not is another matter. It costs millions to put space craft into space, you'd need to bring back vast quantities of metal ores to come close to a trip breaking even. It's a good idea though, and may well become essential as we use up dwindling resources here on Earth. I'd love to see it happen.

[leahiniowa]

They already do have plans for a Marsbase, if you check out the Mars Society website. Thing about Mars that makes it easier is that there is already an atmosphere of sorts which does cut down on some radiation and makes housing a bit easier.

[Milo]

I think the money is there. It's just a matter of where we are already spending it. I think we should be constantly furthering our exploration and understanding of the cosmos.

Bronzie: finding life on another sphere could have rather humongous ramifications in the evolution area.

[Bamy]

We're WAY overdue for a moonbase AND a visit to Mars, IMO.Hell yeah!