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Evidence for Liquid Water on CometsWe have reexamined the arguments for the existence of liquid water on comets, and believe that recent cometary flybys along with pre-Giotto data support its presence on short-period comets. Liquid water would affect cometary dynamics, leaving distinct signatures in precession, orbital dynamics, and potential splitting of comets. Liquid water geysers would affect cometary atmosphere, dust evolution, and non-gravitational forces that perturb the orbit. Liquid water would affect the composition of both the interior and exterior of the comet, producing geologic effects consistent with recent flyby photographs. And most importantly, liquid water suppork the growth of lifeforms, which would make a comet a biofriendly incubator for interplanetary transport. The major objection against liquid water is the necessity of a pressure vessel to prevent sublimation into space. We discuss how such a pressure vessel could naturally evolve as a pristine comet makes its first journey inside the orbit of Mars, and suggest that this type of vessel was observed by Giotto, Deep Space I, and Stardust.
Document ID
20050215637
Acquisition Source
Marshall Space Flight Center
Document Type
Other - Journal Issue
Authors
Sheldon, Robert
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Hoover, Richard
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Date Acquired
August 23, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2005
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Science And Exploration
Meeting Information
Meeting: International Symposium of Optical Sciences and Technology 50th Annual Meeting: Instruments, Methods, and Missions for Astrobiology IX
Location: San Diego, CA
Country: United States
Start Date: July 31, 2005
End Date: August 4, 2005
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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