Scientist for a Day challenges students in grades 5-12 to think like scientists. Examine real spacecraft images of Uranus’ moon Miranda, Neptune’s moon Triton, and Pluto’s moon Charon. Choose the destination you think would be the best place to return with another spacecraft to learn even more about these amazing worlds. Support your choice in an essay of no more than 500 words.
This year's essay contest topics are three moons in the outer solar system: Uranus's moon, Miranda; Neptune's moon, Triton; and Pluto's moon, Charon.
Which of these three moons inspires you to explore further? What excites you about what we’ve learned so far? What do you hope we’ll find if we return to these places? If you like, you can even tell us which science instruments you would put on the next spacecraft to help us learn even more.
The 2019-20 essay contest is sponsored by the Radioisotope Power Systems program. This is the group at NASA that develops the power technology that enables spacecraft to explore the planets and moons of the outer solar system. For more information about Radioisotope Power Systems, visit https://rps.nasa.gov
Evidence also shows that there is a global ocean of liquid water underneath Enceladus' surface. Scientists studying this moon's orbit have determined that it has a tiny wobble as it orbits Saturn.
Despite having a significant amount of evidence for a vast liquid ocean beneath the surface of Europa, little is known about the Jovian moon. For example, the cracks in the ice, thought to be a result of geological activity due to the ocean, contain a mysterious red substance.
The hydrothermal vents on the ocean floor are of great significance because they are a source of energy and nutrition for bacteria. Scientists have detected the presence of hydrogen in the plume given off by Enceladus. This is key because the hydrogen produced by hydrothermal vents could serve as an energy source for any microbes living there.
I am excited about recent discoveries of Titan by the Cassini space probe. Many include evidence of a subsurface ocean of water and ammonia and also the rivers of methane are filled regularly by rain from hydrocarbon clouds.
If I could send another spacecraft back to Titan, I would want to learn about life on Titan. I want to know what it would be like living there if we ever get the opportunity to.
There are many benefits of exploring Europa. We could build an outpost on this moon where we can refuel our spacecraft by converting the water to liquid hydrogen and oxygen which rocket fuel is made of.
Liquids allows transportation of key substances within structures, all the way from microscopic cellular level to complex planetary systems. And water being a universal solvent is the best liquid to sustain life. Further, the tectonic plate movement and possibility of volcanic activities could supply nutrients to subsurface life in the ocean.
Most of our understanding of life is restricted to just terrestrial organisms. This preconceived notion of life leads us to use Earth’s parameters as the criterion for determining an exoplanet’s habitability.
Elizabeth Barstein, Susan George, Dana Jung, Namitha Sethuraman
Grade 9-12
Although we can never be certain life will be discovered, further exploration of Enceladus will give us a deeper understanding of characteristics necessary to sustain life.
