Browse and search white papers and mission & technology studies received by the Planetary Science Decadal Survey. Click here for basic user instructions.

Title: Prebiotic Atmospheric Chemistry on Titan
Primary Author: Roger Yelle
Secondary Author(s): S. Horst, M. Allen, R. Amils, S. K. Atreya G. Bampasidis, A. Bar-Nun, P. Beauchamp, M. Cabane, M. Capria, R. Carlson, N. Carrasco, A. Coates, J. Cooper, M. Combes, T. Cours, H. Cottin, A. Coustenis, T. Cravens, J. Cui, R. de Kok, I. dePater, M. Dobrijevic, G. Durry, Y. Dutil, O. Dutuit, M. Fulchignoni, M. Galand, Y. Gao, D. Gautier, M. Gurwell, E. Hebrard, F. Hersant, H. Imanaka; W. Ip, R. Jaumann, A. Jolly, S. Karoly, E. Kostiuk, L.-M. Lara, P. Lavvas, S. Lebonnois, J.- P. Lebreton, M. Leese, S. Le Mou_elic, T. Livengood, R. Lopes, J. Lopez-Moreno, J. Lunine, P. Mahaffy, V. Mangano, T. McCord, R. Modolo, A. Morse, O. Mousis, I. Muller-Wodarg, A. Mura, G. Murthy C. Nixon, D. Nna-Mvondo, L. Norman, G. Ortega, G. Orton, M. Patel, A. Pavlov, C. Plainaki, P. Rannou K. Reh, M. Rengel, F. Robb, S. Rodriguez, R. Rodrigo, E. Schaller, B. Schmitt, D. Schulze-Makuch, E. Sciamma O''Brien, J. Soderblom, A. Somogyi, E. Sittler, D. Strobel, L. Spilker, T. Spilker, M. Smith, A. Steele, K. Stephan, N. Strange, C. Szopa, R. Thissen, F. Tosi, D. Toublanc, M. Trainer S. Tripathi, S. Ulamec, S. Vinatier, V. Vuitton, J.-E. Wahlund, J. H. Waite, M. Yamauchi, J. Zarnecki
Institution: University of Arizona
Summary: Cassini measurements reveal that organic molecules with molecular weights of hundreds of amu are formed by photochemistry in Titan''s upper atmosphere. Investigating this chemistry is important for understanding the production of biological building blocks by naturally occurring processes.
Panel Selection: Satellites: Galilean satellites, Titan, and the other satellites of the giant planets.
Download File

Return to Index

These documents have been prepared in coordination with the National Academies of Science in support of the National Academies Planetary Science Decadal Survey. These documents are being made available for information purposes only, and any views and opinions expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of NASA, JPL, or the California Institute of Technology.