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A New Energy Source for Organic Synthesis in Europa's Surface IceColored regions on Jupiter's satellite Europa and other icy bodies in the outer Solar System may be contaminated by organic macromolecular solid material that is produced when surface ices are exposed to electrical energy. Hypervelocity meteorite impacts and fracture release tidal and tectonic stresses in icy crusts in the form of electrical discharges, which provide the energy for in situ synthesis of the organic solids. We report measurements of electrical discharge, light emission, and magnetic phenomena in hypervelocity impacts into ice with projectiles with V approx. 5 km/s. Part of the projectile's kinetic energy is converted into electrical potential, while the mechanical disruption of the impact also releases stress energy as light, heat, electrical, and magnetic fields as secondary emissions. These newly recognized energy sources suggest that the dark material in the area of impact craters are tholins generated from the energy of the impacts and that well up from the fracture zone. Large pools of liquid water would persist under the meteorite crater for thousands of years, with the potential for prebiotic chemistry to take place at an accelerated rate due to energy pumped in from the secondary emissions.
Document ID
20020054497
Acquisition Source
Ames Research Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Borucki, Jerome G.
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA United States)
Khare, Bishun
(Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence Inst. Moffett Field, CA United States)
Cruikshank, Dale P.
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA United States)
DeVincenzi, D.
Date Acquired
August 20, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2002
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Science And Exploration
Meeting Information
Meeting: 2nd Astrobiology Science Conference
Location: Moffett Field, CA
Country: United States
Start Date: April 7, 2002
End Date: April 11, 2002
Funding Number(s)
PROJECT: RTOP 344-31-10-04
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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