ASK Astrobiology Search Kit for Europa
Abstract
Introduction:. Astrobiology Search Kit (ASK) in- strument is a field portable spectrometer that: 1) Searches for evidence of biomarkers common to life on Earth; and 2) Assesses the habitability of the surface material (liquid, ice, soil) by measuring chemical constituents and mineralogy.The scientific basis of the instrument is wet chemistry combined with spectroscopy. Specifically, transmission, reflectance and organic (biological and geochemical) native fluorescence. For the geochemical assessment, we use wet-chemistry protocols that are well established and proven assays.ASK uses both contact ad non-contact methods. The contact method is similar to current techniques in environmental assays and medical diagnostics. These methods are indicative of specific lipids and proteins, common to most organisms on Earth. The non-contact method is spectroscopy- fluorescence, transmission, and reflectance. We search for extant life,a nd the chemistry surrounding those biomolecules. Employing multiple techniques allows for redundancy within the same sample- essential to life detection verification.The ASK instrument is relevant to several potential near-term missions. We compare the ASK instrument capability to the mission goals/objectives of the Europa Lander directed mission. Science Goal: 1. Search for evidence of biomarkers and /or life, especially extant life.On Earth, all organisms that we know of have similar biochemistry- they use the same 20 amino acids, have nucleic acids (DNA or RNA), use the TCA Krebs cy- cle for energy and rely on Carbon, Hydrogen, Nitro- gen, Oxygen, Phosphate, and Sulfur elements (CHNOPS). Due to these commonalities of life on Earth, our life detection instrument suite aims to detect aspects of each of these. The ASK instrument utilizes complementary biomolecule (life detection) methods using spectroscopy (including fluorescence) and bio- chemical assays based on enzymatic reactions in the Krebs cycle to gain an understanding of the biological mileau of the sample.The biomarker assay employs dry chemistries, transmission and fluorescence spectroscopy. The core detection technology utilizes the Patent Pending (US 2017/0038357-A1) Retego Labs advanced spectrometer. We have a complement of wet chemistry and fluorescence assays to detect universal compounds (DNA, RNA, NADH, and ATP for instance) and unique compounds to a specific extant life process such as (F420) in methanogens. The biomarker assays provide an insight into the diversity and evolution of microbial life providing a glance into the microbiome of the planetary body.Science Goal 2: Asses the habitability (particularly through quantitative compositional measurements) of Europa via in situ techniques uniquely available to a landed mission. Our search for extant life on Ocean Worlds begins with assessing the habitability by determining the basic chemistry of the sub-surface brine. The Retego Labs Advanced Spectrometer is designed for chemistry assays in brine produced water from the oil and gas industry. The brine water from these fields ranges from low to near saturation. Retego Labs designed a method using dry chemical assays combined with fluorescence to measure the desired constituents within the brine. These assays are specifically designed for brine environments, have more than a four year shelf-life and require no additional liquid reagents. The size of the ASK instrument is in the 1U range and could be a payload on a mission ranging from an interplanetary cubesat size to a New Frontiers Icy moons mission.
- Publication:
-
42nd COSPAR Scientific Assembly
- Pub Date:
- July 2018
- Bibcode:
- 2018cosp...42E3186S