Review of Exchange Processes on Ganymede in View of Its Planetary Protection Categorization

Research areas:

• Intérieurs planétaires (2011 - 2016)

Year:

2013

Authors:

• Olivier Grasset
• E. J. Bunce
• A. Coustenis
• M. K. Dougherty
• C. Erd
• H. Hussmann
• R. Jaumann
• O. Prieto-Ballesteros

Journal:

ASTROBIOLOGY

Volume:

13

Number:

10

Pages:

991-1004

Month:

OCT 1

ISSN:

1531-1074

BibTex:

@article{WOS:000325854600008, author = "Olivier Grasset and E. J. Bunce and A. Coustenis and M. K. Dougherty and C. Erd and H. Hussmann and R. Jaumann and O. Prieto-Ballesteros", abstract = "In this paper, we provide a detailed review of Ganymede{\&}#039;s characteristics that are germane to any consideration of its planetary protection requirements. Ganymede is the largest moon in our solar system and is the subject of one of the main science objectives of the JUICE mission to the jovian system. We explore the probability of the occurrence of potentially habitable zones within Ganymede at present, including those both within the deep liquid ocean and those in shallow liquid reservoirs. We consider the possible exchange processes between the surface and any putative habitats to set some constraints on the planetary protection approach for this moon. As a conclusion, the remote versus significant chance of contamination will be discussed, according to our current understanding of this giant icy moon. Based on the different estimates we investigate here, it appears extremely unlikely that material would be exchanged downward through the upper icy layer of Ganymede and, thus, bring material into the ocean over timescales consistent with the survival of microorganisms. Key Words: Planetary sciencePlanetary protectionIce. Astrobiology 13, 991-1004.", doi = "10.1089/ast.2013.1013", extra = "PICL", issn = "1531-1074", journal = "ASTROBIOLOGY", month = "OCT 1", number = "10", pages = "991-1004", title = "{R}eview of {E}xchange {P}rocesses on {G}anymede in {V}iew of {I}ts {P}lanetary {P}rotection {C}ategorization", volume = "13", year = "2013", }

Abstract:

In this paper, we provide a detailed review of Ganymede's
characteristics that are germane to any consideration of its planetary
protection requirements. Ganymede is the largest moon in our solar
system and is the subject of one of the main science objectives of the
JUICE mission to the jovian system. We explore the probability of the
occurrence of potentially habitable zones within Ganymede at present,
including those both within the deep liquid ocean and those in shallow
liquid reservoirs. We consider the possible exchange processes between
the surface and any putative habitats to set some constraints on the
planetary protection approach for this moon. As a conclusion, the remote
versus significant chance of contamination will be discussed, according
to our current understanding of this giant icy moon. Based on the
different estimates we investigate here, it appears extremely unlikely
that material would be exchanged downward through the upper icy layer of
Ganymede and, thus, bring material into the ocean over timescales
consistent with the survival of microorganisms. Key Words: Planetary
sciencePlanetary protectionIce. Astrobiology 13, 991-1004.