The Search for Extraterrestrial Life – New Space Missions and Discoveries
The Search for Extraterrestrial Life New Space Missions and Discoveries. The quest to find life beyond Earth has captivated humanity for centuries. With the advancement of technology, we are now in an exciting era of space exploration as numerous government agencies and private companies launch new missions searching for signs of extraterrestrial life.
Table of Contents
Ongoing Efforts to Discover Life in Space
The search for extraterrestrial life has become a global endeavor with many countries having active space programs dedicated to astrobiology – the study of life in the universe. Some key players in this arena include:
The Search for Extraterrestrial Life – New Space Missions and Discoveries
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is leading various astrobiology missions including the Mars Exploration Program and the Astrobiology Institute. Upcoming projects include Europa Clipper launching in 2024 to study Jupiter’s moon Europa which has a vast ocean underneath its icy surface.
NASA’s Pivotal Role in the Search for Life Beyond Earth
As a leading space agency at the forefront of astrobiology research, NASA has made monumental contributions to the search for extraterrestrial life over the past six decades.
NASA’s first major foray into exobiology was the Viking mission which sent two landers to scoop Martian soil samples to test for microbial life in 1976. While results were inconclusive, Viking provided valuable data on Mars’ environment. Since then, NASA has continually pursued the question of alien life through an array of pioneering projects.
In the 1990s and 2000s, NASA discovered the first exoplanets orbiting distant stars and analyzed their atmospheres for potential biomarkers using observatories like the Hubble Space Telescope and the Kepler Space Observatory. Robotic missions to Mars like the Curiosity and Perseverance rovers have uncovered more evidence the planet once hosted liquid water and habitable conditions.
NASA’s upcoming Mars Sample Return campaign will collect rocks from Mars and transport them back to Earth laboratories for the closest biological analysis off-planet material. The Europa Clipper launching in 2024 will extensively study Jupiter’s moon Europa and its global subsurface ocean which shows conditions potentially suitable for life.
The James Webb Space Telescope set to launch in 2021 will be able to spectroscopically analyze the atmospheres of exoplanets to detect any chemical hints of life. NASA also plans to send a helicopter drone named Dragonfly to Saturn’s moon Titan in 2026 to sample complex organic surface chemistry.
Through its Astrobiology Institute and cooperative programs with other space agencies, NASA continues to lead world efforts in advancing scientific knowledge of chemical and biological processes across the universe.
With ongoing and future missions poised to gather more data from our solar system and beyond, NASA’s tireless exploration and research brings humanity ever closer to definitively answering the transcendent question – are we alone?
Roscosmos
The Russian space agency Roscosmos has a long history of planetary exploration and contributions to the search for life through its Soviet-era and present-day programs.
Roscosmos Advancing Mars Exploration and Astrobiology
The Soviet Union conducted the first successful flyby and landing on Venus as well as the first soft landing on the Moon. The Salyut, Mir, and Soyuz programs also pioneered long-duration human spaceflight, preparing the way for future crewed missions to Mars.
Russia’s Venera and Vega probes in the 1970s-1980s returned the first photos of Venus’ surface and evidence of past water. Their Mars probes were the first to land and transmit from the Martian surface.
Roscosmos is NASA’s key partner on the ExoMars program, contributing instruments, the landing platform and surface science platform to the Trace Gas Orbiter and Rosalind Franklin rover missions. These will help assess Mars’ past habitability and potential biological activity.
Future collaborations with ESA include the Luna 27 mission in 2025 to land on the Moon’s south pole and drill for ice samples. Roscosmos is also discussing joint plans with China to establish a lunar base.
Russia’s Spektr-RG space observatory, launched in 2019, is pioneering observations to discover exoplanets and study their potential to host life.
As a legacy spacepower, Roscosmos possesses unique expertise and capabilities to serve as an ongoing partner with other leading agencies in solar system science and the search for life beyond Earth. Its contributions will continue to be vital to future Mars exploration and other astrobiological initiatives.
ESA
The European Space Agency’s ExoMars rover launched in 2020 to search for biosignatures on Mars. ESA also plans the Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) launching in 2022 to visit Europa, Callisto, and Ganymede.
ESA’s Astrobiology Missions Seeking Signs of Alien Life
As a counterpart to NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA) has made major contributions to interplanetary exploration and the search for life beyond Earth.
ESA’s first dedicated astrobiology mission was ExoMars, a collaboration with the Russian space agency Roscosmos. The Trace Gas Orbiter component of ExoMars arrived at Mars in 2016 and is analyzing atmospheric gases like methane that could be evidence of microbial activity.
The second ExoMars mission launching in 2022 will deploy the Rosalind Franklin rover to drill into the Martian subsurface and analyze samples in its onboard laboratory to detect potential biosignatures. ESA scientists assist NASA in selecting caching sites for the Mars Sample Return mission.
ESA is also planning the Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) launching in 2022 that will spend 3 years studying Jupiter and its ocean-bearing moons Ganymede, Europa, and Callisto up close to assess their habitability. JUICE will carry ice-penetrating radar, cameras, spectrometers, and a laser altimeter to characterize the icy surface and ocean environments.
The agency’s ARIEL exoplanet mission launching in 2028 will observe 1,000 distant exoplanets and analyze their chemical compositions and atmospheres for signs of habitability and biomarkers like methane, oxygen, and ozone.
ESA operates the Exoplanets database which catalogs over 4,000 confirmed exoplanets discovered to date. Astrophysicists supported by ESA like Michel Mayor and Didier Queloz shared the 2019 Nobel Prize in Physics for the first discovery of an exoplanet orbiting a Sun-like star in 1995.
By leading key interplanetary projects and contributing scientific instrumentation to upcoming missions, ESA provides critical contributions alongside NASA in uncovering clues in the continuing search for alien life within and beyond our solar system.
CNSA
China National Space Administration’s lunar and Martian probes are searching for resources and evidence of life. Future missions aim to collect samples from asteroids and Jupiter’s moons.
CNSA’s Space Program Expanding the Search for Extraterrestrial Life
The China National Space Administration (CNSA) has rapidly expanded its space exploration capabilities over the past two decades, with astrobiology and the search for extraterrestrial life becoming a rising priority.
China’s first lunar probe, Chang’e 1, launched in 2007 and provided the first high-resolution maps of the entire lunar surface. Follow-up Chang’e missions have landed robotic rovers on the Moon that analyze surface composition for evidence of water and organic compounds.
The Chang’e 5 mission returned the first lunar samples to Earth since 1976, delivering valuable materials for study. China plans to establish an International Lunar Research Station with Russia between 2036-2045.
In 2020, the Tianwen-1 spacecraft successfully entered Mars orbit and deployed the Zhurong rover which is surveying the surface alongside NASA’s Perseverance. One goal is to analyze soil samples for organic biosignatures.
CNSA is collaborating with the European Space Agency on the upcoming Martian Sample Return mission to return collected samples from Mars to Earth laboratories.
China is also contributing to exoplanet research with the launch of the Xuntian telescope in 2024 – a 2.5m visible light space telescope that can observe exoplanets and debris disks for signs of habitability and life.
By fast-tracking an ambitious slate of robotic missions, CNSA is positioning itself at the vanguard of solar system exploration and astrobiology alongside other major space agencies. As it ramps up technical capabilities and international cooperation, CNSA’s contributions will help uncover vital clues in humanity’s search for life beyond Earth.
JAXA
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency has the Martian Moons Exploration mission to collect a sample from Mars’ moon Phobos launching in 2024.
JAXA’s Quest to Further Astrobiology Understanding
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has made important contributions to space science and the search for extraterrestrial life through interplanetary missions and research initiatives.
A pioneer in asteroid exploration, JAXA’s Hayabusa probe collected the first-ever samples from an asteroid which were returned to Earth in 2010. Analysis revealed organic compounds and water, shedding light on the role asteroids may play in delivering prebiotic chemistry to planets.
The Hayabusa2 probe built on this by gathering more asteroid samples in 2019, including from deep below the surface. Upcoming missions aim to survey more near-Earth asteroids.
JAXA is collaborating with NASA and ESA on the Martian Moons Exploration (MMX) mission launching in 2024. This will send a spacecraft to land on Phobos, collect a sample, and return it to Earth for analysis of Mars’ moons origins and any ancient biomarkers.
The space agency operates the NIRS igloo on board the International Space Station – an astrobiology laboratory studying how space radiation affects microbes, DNA, and organics to understand conditions for life in space.
In 2022, JAXA announced plans for the Martian Icebreaker Life mission in collaboration with ESA – a rover equipped with a drill and miniature laboratory to explore Mars and seek signs of life in the near subsurface.
With its expertise in sample return missions, asteroid science, and astrobiology research, JAXA is making significant contributions to unraveling the mysteries of life in the universe. Future involvement in mars exploration and other cooperative international missions will provide critical data to further humanity’s search for life beyond Earth.
ISRO
The Indian Space Research Organization is developing an orbital spacecraft to study Venus. Future missions may involve sending probes to Jupiter and Saturn.
ISRO’s Upcoming Missions to Study Habitability
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is poised to make greater contributions to the search for life through several planned interplanetary missions.
ISRO has operated two lunar orbiters, Chandrayaan-1 and Chandrayaan-2, Chandrayaan-3 that mapped minerals, water ice, and hydroxyl groups across the Moon’s surface – revealing insights into its origin and potential habitability.
The agency is collaborating with Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) on LUPEX, a lunar polar exploration mission launching in 2024. This will assess cold traps in craters near the poles for resources and evidence of water-ice.
In 2023, ISRO aims to launch its first mission to Venus – the Shukrayaan-1 orbiter. It will study Venus’ atmosphere and surface to understand its evolution and habitability, particularly evidence of past oceans and tectonic activity.
NASA has shortlisted ISRO’s Venusian Neutrals Analyzer instrument to fly aboard its DAVINCI+ atmospheric probe that will plunge through Venus’ atmosphere in 2029. Findings could reshape our understanding of Venus’ past habitability.
ISRO is also developing a proposal for a follow-up Venus mission called Shukrayaan-2 that may involve landing a spacecraft on the surface around 2030.
Future mission concepts under consideration include sending an orbiter to study Jupiter and its moons as well as Saturn and its moon Titan in the 2030s to analyze their astrobiological potential.
As its planetary science program matures, ISRO is positioning itself to make greater scientific contributions to investigating the habitability of worlds in our solar system. Future involvement in Mars exploration and other international efforts will expand its role in the search for extraterrestrial life.
SpaceX
Elon Musk’s company is partnering with NASA to land astronauts on the Moon by 2025. Their Starship rocket could eventually travel to Mars and beyond.
SpaceX Paving the Way for Mars Colonization and Exploration
The aerospace company SpaceX, founded by Elon Musk, has energized the prospects of establishing a sustained human presence on Mars – a pivotal step towards extensively exploring the planet for signs of life.
SpaceX is contracted by NASA to develop the Starship heavy lift rocket and Starship spacecraft to land astronauts and large cargo payloads on the Moon and Mars.
Starship’s envisioned massive LEO payload capacity of over 100,000 kg far surpasses any current rocket, enabling delivery of enough supplies and equipment to support crewed bases. Refueling in orbit can extend Starship’s reach across the solar system.
SpaceX’s Dragon capsules are already providing regular crew and cargo delivery services to the International Space Station. This proven system will lay the groundwork for interplanetary transport.
SpaceX plans to send an uncrewed Starship on a Mars landing demo as early as 2024 to test technologies for entry, descent and landing. The company aims to land humans on Mars by the late 2020s or early 2030s to establish the first permanent settlement.
Having pioneered reusable rocket systems, SpaceX provides cost-effective launch capabilities that promise to make Mars more accessible. Offering frequent launches and transport services can accelerate the exploration and study of the red planet.
SpaceX is also contracting with third parties like space tourism startup Polaris Program to carry private astronauts on Starship for short-stay Mars surface missions focused on scientific research.
With its powerful rockets and spacecraft in development, SpaceX has the potential to be a game-changer – enabling continuous transportation to Mars that could greatly expand the scope of the search for life through sustained science activities and direct study of the Martian terrain.
Here are some additional details on ongoing efforts to discover life in space:
• CNSA – China has made the search for extraterrestrial life and extraterrestrial civilizations part of its 2021 strategic goals for space science. The Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope (FAST) in China is one of the world’s largest radio telescopes and is being used in the search for signals from intelligent extraterrestrial life.
• Roscosmos – Russia’s active Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) program uses the RATAN-600 radio telescope array to listen for radio signals from alien civilizations. Roscosmos has also proposed collaborations with NASA on future astrobiology missions.
• ISRO – The Indian Space Research Organization plans to build a special observatory designed to scan the universe for signals emitted by extraterrestrial life and civilizations. ISRO also aims to launch its own SETI program in the coming years.
• Breakthrough Listen – This 10-year initiative funded by billionaire Yuri Milner employs radio telescopes around the world to survey the 1 million stars closest to Earth for artificial radio signals emitted by alien technology.
SETI Institute – SETI projects use tools like the Allen Telescope Array in California to scan radio frequencies where extraterrestrial civilizations might transmit signals or communications. Machine learning helps sift through massive amounts of data.
• Private companies – Startups like Rocket Lab, Spin Launch, and ABL Space aim to provide low-cost, high-frequency launch capabilities that could enable more astrobiology experiments and tools to explore space.
New Discoveries Bringing Us Closer to Finding Life
The Search for Extraterrestrial Life New Space Missions and Discoveries, Recent discoveries and developments have brought fresh optimism that we may soon find evidence of life in our solar system. Some key findings include:
Water on Mars and the Moon
NASA spacecrafts have confirmed ice on the Moon and seasonal liquid flows on Mars – hinting these celestial bodies may have sustained life. Future crewed missions will search for biosignatures.
The Significance of Water Discoveries for Astrobiology
The definitive detections of water on the Moon and Mars in recent decades have profoundly reshaped astrobiological understanding and priorities in the search for alien life.
Lunar ice deposits were conclusively detected in craters at the Moon’s south pole by NASA’s LCROSS probe in 2009. Several follow-up orbital missions by NASA, ISRO, and China have now mapped hundreds of billions of tons of water ice across the Moon’s surface. The ice could be mined to sustain future lunar bases and exploration.
Before the 1990s, liquid water was thought to be impossible on Mars’ frigid surface. But data from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter revealed seasonal flows on cliff faces from shallow underground aquifers. The Curiosity and Perseverance rovers have since identified ancient lakes that likely persisted for millions of years – demonstrating Mars had extensive surface water in its past.
These paradigm-shifting discoveries definitively signal the Moon and Mars both host abundant water – an essential prerequisite for life as we know it. The presence of liquid water, even episodically, raises the prospect that microbial life could have developed and survived in protected niches.
The subsurface access to liquid water on Mars also informs where future missions such as ExoMars could drill and collect the most promising samples to analyze for biosignatures. Lunar water resources will be critical for sustained human exploration, allowing assessment of a broader extent of the lunar surface.
The search for life centers on “follow the water” – so identifying reservoirs of water activity hugely narrows the search and guides upcoming exploration efforts in the most astrobiologically compelling directions. The lunar and Martian water discoveries provide great optimism in the quest to finally answer whether life exists beyond Earth.
Earth-like Planets in Habitable Zones
Telescopes such as Kepler, TESS, and the Extremely Large Telescope have identified thousands of exoplanets – with some in the habitable zones of their stars where liquid water could exist. Studying their atmospheres could reveal signs of life.
Identifying Exoplanets with Life Potential
The discovery of planets orbiting distant stars that reside in the habitable zone – where liquid water could exist on a planet’s surface – has propelled enthusiasm that hardy microbial lifeforms may be widespread across the galaxy.
Major sky surveys by space telescopes like NASA’s Kepler, TESS and ESA’s Gaia have identified thousands of exoplanets, many of which are rocky and orbit within their star’s habitable zones. Notable examples include Proxima Centauri b, Kepler-186f, and recently TOI-700d.
Upcoming next-generation telescopes like the James Webb Space Telescope and ESO’s Extremely Large Telescope will analyze exoplanet atmospheres for chemical fingerprints like methane, ozone, and oxygen which can indicate habitability and biological processes.
While exoplanets present challenges for direct observation, promising biosignatures in their atmospheric spectra would indicate:
• The presence of an atmosphere, compatible gases, and moderate surface temperatures that can support liquid water.
• Chemical disequilibrium that points to ongoing biological metabolism.
• Gases like oxygen that are commonly produced by life on Earth.
Some models suggest our galaxy could harbor up to 10 billion potentially habitable planets. If even a small fraction developed simple microbial life that modified their atmospheres, upcoming telescopes should be capable of detecting true “alien Earths” across multiple nearby star systems.
As more exoplanets are cataloged within habitable zones and analyzed for biosignatures, the likelihood grows that we may finally discover compelling evidence of extraterrestrial life and its prevalence within a few decades. This will truly open an exciting new chapter in understanding our place in the universe.
Extremophiles on Earth
Discoveries of microbial life thriving in extreme environments like thermal vents, radiation, and high acidity suggest extraterrestrial life could survive harsh alien worlds. This guides where we search in space.
What Earth’s Extremophiles Reveal About Astrobiology
The study of microscopic extremophiles on Earth that thrive in harsh environments once thought uninhabitable has profoundly expanded scientific understanding of where alien life could survive across the solar system and beyond.
Some examples of extremophiles include:
• Thermoanaerobacter – bacteria that live near hydrothermal vents at 122°C
• Deinococcus radiodurans – bacteria that can withstand 15,000 Gy of radiation
• Tardigrades – microscopic animals that can survive exposure to outer space
• Acidithiobacillus – bacteria that live in pH 1-2 acid mine drainage
These organisms derive energy from chemical disequilibria in their extreme niches through processes like chemosynthesis. Their survival informs where and how astrobiologists search for life in analogous environments across the solar system.
For example, Jupiter’s moon Europa and Saturn’s moon Enceladus are thought to have subsurface oceans in contact with a rocky mantle, much like the conditions near hydrothermal vents where chemosynthetic extremophiles thrive on Earth. Missions aim to explore these icy moons for signs of water-rock chemical exchanges that could support simple lifeforms.
Additionally, Mars once had a thicker atmosphere and widespread surface water. Extremophiles that persist in arid conditions on Earth demonstrate life could have adapted and still survive in protected pockets of the Martian subsurface.
The ability of Earth’s extremophiles to colonize incredibly harsh conditions gives astrobiologists compelling clues about where life could take hold and persist beyond our planet. Upcoming exploration of Mars and ocean worlds will be guided by these revelations from nature’s tenacity here on Earth.
Organic Molecules on Comets
The Philae spacecraft’s analysis of the comet 67P showed organic molecules – the building blocks of life. Comets may have “seeded” these across the galaxy.
Comets Seeded Prebiotic Chemistry Through the Solar System
The detection of a variety of organic compounds on the comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko by the European Space Agency’s Philae lander in 2014 provided supporting evidence for the theory that comets may have “seeded” early Earth and other planets with prebiotic chemistry necessary for life.
When Philae analyzed the surface of 67P, it identified 16 different organic molecules including:
• Methyl isocyanate – a precursor to amino acids
• Acetone – an essential biomolecule
• Propionaldehyde – a precursor to DNA’s sugar backbone
These and other organics detected likely formed when volatile compounds condensed together in the nebula that formed our solar system over 4.5 billion years ago. They remained locked inside 67P until being released as the comet approached the Sun.
Though they aren’t evidence of life itself, these abiotic organics are chemical building blocks that could have accumulate on rocky planets like the early Earth through comet and meteorite impacts. This may have supplied enough biomolecular raw materials to spark the beginnings of life.
While Philae’s initial landing was cut short before completing all analyses, the tantalizing discovery of fundamental biogenic molecules raises optimism that comets played an essential role in abiogenesis by delivering complex organics across many worlds.
As various space agencies prepare new missions to intercept and sample additional comets like NASA’s Comet Interceptor, upcoming analysis of their composition will shed more light on comets’ function as “delivery vehicles” that spread the basic chemistry for life through the early solar system. Deducing this process brings us closer to understanding life’s origins on Earth and the prospect it could have emerged across multiple habitable worlds beyond our own.
Upcoming Missions to Search for Life
Building on earlier programs, upcoming space missions will scout specific celestial targets and employ cutting-edge instruments to detect potential biosignatures:
Europa Clipper by NASA
Launching in 2024, this orbiter will make detailed studies of Jupiter’s moon Europa and its internal ocean to assess its habitability.
Europa Clipper to Scout Icy Moon for Habitability
NASA’s Europa Clipper is an ambitious upcoming mission that will conduct detailed reconnaissance of Jupiter’s moon Europa to assess its astrobiological potential and help determine if it could host alien life.
Set to launch in 2024, Europa Clipper will enter orbit around Jupiter and conduct a series of 45 close flybys of Europa over 3 years. Carrying an advanced suite of cameras and spectrometers, it will thoroughly map the icy surface in high resolution and probe the subsurface ocean.
Key scientific objectives include:
• Confirming ocean depth and chemical composition
• Studying surface features like ridges to understand ice shell dynamics
• Searching for plumes venting subsurface water into space
• Identifying any hot spots or hydrothermal activity
Europa’s global ocean reaches 60-150 miles deep – containing twice as much water as Earth. Tidal forces from Jupiter likely keep it liquid with potential hydrothermal vents on the seafloor. This presents an environment analogous to sea floor ecosystems on Earth fueled by chemosynthesis.
If Europa has the right chemical energy sources, its warm, salty ocean could support microbial communities near vents or its rocky seafloor. The Clipper’s instruments will scout for any chemical or geological signatures that could betray biological processes occurring within the moon’s dark ocean depths.
As NASA’s most advanced astrobiology probe ever flown, Europa Clipper leverages decades of planetary science to explore one of our solar system’s most promising targets to find alien life. Its findings will guide whether NASA should next attempt a risky surface landing and sample return from this icy ocean world.
ExoMars Rover by ESA/Roscosmos
The 2022 launch will deploy a rover equipped with a drill on Mars to extract samples from below the irradiated surface where biosignatures may be preserved.
ExoMars Rover to Drill for Biosignatures under Mars’ Surface
The ExoMars rover, named Rosalind Franklin, represents the most technologically advanced astrobiology mission to the surface of Mars to date with its aim to detect definitive traces of microbial life, past or present.
Led by the European Space Agency (ESA) and Russian space agency Roscosmos, the ExoMars rover is scheduled to launch in 2022 and land on Mars in 2023. Equipped with a drill capable of extracting samples down to 6.5 feet underground, it will acquire material from ancient terrain where biosignatures are more likely preserved.
Onboard the rover is the Pasteur science laboratory containing instruments such as:
• Mars Organic Molecule Analyzer (MOMA) – an oven and mass spectrometer to detect organic compounds
• Raman Laser Spectrometer – can identify microbial remains in the sample and assess past habitability
• MicrOmega – a microscope to study rock textures down to grain size for morphology biosignatures
By obtaining samples from an era when Mars had persistent water activity, before its atmosphere thinned, the ExoMars rover overcomes a key limitation of previous surface missions restricted to top-level soil analysis.
ESA scientists believe the best chance for the rover to uncover evidence of past Martian life likely exists in the ancient subsurface environment, protected from surface radiation. Sophisticated onboard laboratory analysis offers the capability to definitively identify these buried traces.
As the first mission specifically designed to detect extraterrestrial life, ExoMars marks a pivotal opportunity in humanity’s long quest to finally answer whether we are alone in the universe. The rover’s findings at depths never before accessed could reveal our closest evidence yet that Mars once harbored living organisms.
James Webb Space Telescope
Set to launch in 2021, this advanced telescope can analyze atmospheres of exoplanets for bio-markers like methane which could indicate alien life.
James Webb to Detect Exoplanet Biosignatures
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), set to launch in 2021, will provide unprecedented capabilities to analyze exoplanet atmospheres and potentially detect signs of life beyond our solar system.
With its advanced infrared instruments, JWST can examine the atmospheres of rocky, earth-sized exoplanets orbiting M dwarf stars in much greater detail than ever before possible.
JWST offers two primary methods for identifying possible biosignatures:
• Transmission spectroscopy – Measuring starlight passing through a planet’s atmosphere during transit reveals the presence of key gases that may indicate habitability and biological processes.
• Direct imaging – With coronagraphs to block starlight, JWST can directly image some larger, colder exoplanets to spectroscopically read their atmospheric composition.
Specific biomarkers JWST will look for include:
• Oxygen and ozone – Potential evidence of photosynthesis.
• Methane – Could signify biological metabolism or geological activity.
• Water vapor – Indicates surface liquid water if in habitable zone.
• Carbon dioxide – May imply atmospheric regulation by life.
While potential false positives exist from geological mechanisms, detecting combinations of key biomarkers in thermodynamic disequilibrium would strongly hint at biological activity shaping an exoplanet’s atmosphere.
JWST will also estimate exoplanet temperatures, identify any clouds/hazes, and determine if liquid water could exist – all additional factors for habitability.
As our first telescope capable of detailed atmospheric analysis of earth-sized worlds, JWST may bring us to the cusp of definitively identifying signs of alien life through fingerprints left in exoplanet atmospheres across our galactic neighborhood.
Dragonfly Mission to Titan
NASA is sending a rotorcraft to Saturn’s largest moon Titan in 2026 to sample organic compounds and search for chemical indications of life.
Dragonfly Rotorcraft to Search for Life Signatures on Titan
NASA is preparing an ambitious mission to Saturn’s moon Titan called Dragonfly – a dual-quadcopter that will fly across the organic-rich surface to search for signs of exotic lifeforms in this cold, methane-based world.
Set to launch in 2027 and arrive in 2034, Dragonfly aims to be the first aircraft to fly its entire science payload to multiple locations for in situ analysis on another solar system body.
After landing at the equatorial “Shangri-La” dunes, Dragonfly will perform short hops to sample different regions of Titan over 2.7 years, covering more than 108 miles. It carries a highly capable science payload:
• Mass spectrometer to analyze chemical composition
• Gamma ray spectrometer to study subsurface ocean and ice
• Meteorology sensors to measure atmospheric conditions
• Cameras to image the surface at various wavelengths
Titan presents a uniquely habitable environment beyond Earth with its thick nitrogen atmosphere, lakes of liquid methane/ethane, and organic molecule haze. Like Europa and Enceladus, it likely has a subsurface ocean in contact with a rocky core.
Dragonfly’s instruments will assess Titan’s chemistry for environments capable of supporting methane-based life, analogous to methanogens in Earth’s deep ocean. Identifying chemical signatures or structures suggesting biological processes could provide evidence of life on Titan adapted to freezing conditions.
As an ambitious astrobiology mission to Saturn’s most Earth-like world, Dragonfly will pioneer rotorcraft flight across dozens of miles in pursuit of chemical clues that exotic alien lifeforms could dwell in Titan’s extreme environment.
Key Discoveries Needed to Confirm Extraterrestrial Life
While the above missions could provide “circumstantial” evidence of alien life, scientists outline three key discoveries that would provide definite proof:
Detecting Structures and Features of Life – Cells, Fossils
Imaging and microscopic analysis that reveals complex structures like cells, tissues, or body fossils on another celestial object would confirm extraterrestrial life.
The most definitive proof of extraterrestrial life would be imagery and microscopic analysis that reveals complex morphological structures consistent with biology, such as cells, tissues, body fossils or other defined shapes that can only be produced by living organisms.
Discovery of intricate physical structures unambiguously identifiable as biological in origin would provide conclusive evidence of alien life. Key examples could include:
• Fossilized microbial cells or multicellular lifeforms preserved in rocks that display clear membranes, cytoplasm, nuclei or cell walls upon examination.
• Microscopic examination of samples that reveals alien cells or tissues with organelles and complex interiors consistent with single-celled organisms on Earth.
• Filamentous structures suggestive of fungal or bacterial filaments potentially detected in ice samples or terrestrial crossover environments.
• Macroscale fossils of larger alien fauna exhibiting skeletal structures, imprints, hardened body segments and appendages indicative of organized biology not producible through inorganic processes.
• Preserved extracellular biological structures like chemical gradients, chemical cycles, biofilms or microbial mats that betray the former presence of life.
Careful analysis would need to definitively rule out similar abiotic or inorganic structures. However, the discovery via imaging and microscopy of alien cells, tissues or body fossils exhibiting unambiguous hallmarks of biological design, complexity and organization would confirm the presence of extraterrestrial life beyond doubt. It would rank among the most significant discoveries in history, proving our solar system harbors additional ecosystems of living organisms.
Finding Signs of Metabolism – Chemical Reactions, Cycles
Identifying repeating chemical reactions, cycles, and non-equilibrium states on an exoplanet or moon would strongly indicate alien metabolic processes.
Detection of repeating chemical reactions, metabolic cycles and chemical disequilibria on another world would provide strong evidence of alien life through implication of metabolic processes occurring.
Key metabolic signatures astrobiologists could look for include:
• Chemical gradients and non-equilibrium states (e.g. of redox couples) that appear actively maintained and can’t be explained by inorganic chemistry alone. This would suggest biological regulation.
• Evidence of elements accumulating against their thermodynamic tendencies, indicating an energy source is driving them out of equilibrium. Examples are high nitrogen levels or depleted carbon levels.
• Repeating chemical reactions that display specificity, regulation, and enable conversion between complex biochemicals for growth and replication. This would indicate control by enzymes.
• Identifiable metabolic pathways, cycles and cascading reactions reminiscent of terrestrial biochemistry. Examples include the Krebs cycle, nitrogen fixation, photosynthesis, methanogenesis etc.
• Production of complex organic molecules like lipids, amino acids, nucleotides etc. that are too structurally organized to arise abiotically.
• Bio-signatures indicative of energy-yielding metabolisms like sulfur disproportionation, iron oxidation, radiolysis etc. that support chemosynthetic or radiolytic life.
• Chemical exchanges between a subsurface ocean and a rocky core mimicking Earth’s that could drive metabolism.
The presence of controlled, replicating chemical systems manipulating elements into biomolecules, regulating bio-energetic reactions, and exhibiting metabolic pathways would strongly imply a living system on another celestial body – even if physical cells remained elusive. It would confirm alien biological activity through its biochemical products and energy-harvesting fingerprints.
Discovering Genetic Codes – DNA, RNA
Sequencing genetic material like DNA or RNA from a sample returned from space that shows coding for reproduction would be unambiguous, smoking-gun evidence of life beyond Earth.
The sequencing of alien genetic material like DNA or RNA extracted from extraterrestrial samples would provide unambiguous, definitive proof of life beyond Earth by exhibiting self-replicating molecular codes fundamental to biology.
Genetic biopolymers like DNA and RNA have strictly-defined chemical structures optimized for encoding, transmitting and expressing biological information. Terrestrial life uses DNA/RNA’s nucleotide base-pairing in genes and codon-amino acid mapping in protein synthesis.
Key evidence from sequencing extraterrestrial genetic material could include:
• Nucleobase sequences indicating chromosomal structures, genes with base pair bonding and codons binding amino acids during translation. This would confirm the polymer stores heritable biological information.
• Recognition of DNA/RNA’s distinct sugar-phosphate backbone structure best explained by evolution of the molecule for informational storage in water.
• Identification of nucleotide ratios statistically consistent with life’s preference for efficient information storage in genetic polymers. Examples are purine/pyrimidine ratios.
• Signs of long-chain polymerization as required for stable chromosome storage rather than short oligomers that can easily arise abiotically.
Presence of nucleobase modifications indicative of cellular regulation of gene expression.
• Homochirality preference for right-handed sugars as terrestrial life utilizes to optimize replication.
Phosphate and sugar’s unique reactivity signatures indicating processing by enzymes.
The presence of genetic biopolymers physically structured for optimized biological functions would provide unambiguous evidence of extraterrestrial organisms that evolved heritable molecular coding for life processes – the universal hallmark of living systems across the cosmos.
The Future Search for Life in Our Solar System and Beyond
The coming decades will see an unprecedented leap forward in the search for life beyond Earth as both government space agencies and private companies deploy new technologies across our solar system and galactic neighborhood.
In our own solar system, upcoming missions to Mars and icy moons like Europa, Enceladus, and Titan have high chances of detecting strong biosignatures within their oceans and surfaces. If life took hold on early Mars or in the subsurface oceans of these moons, we may finally discover proof within the next 10-20 years through advanced rovers, landers, and sample return capsules.
Beyond our solar system, next-generation telescopes including James Webb and future concepts like LUVOIR and HabEx will characterize exoplanet atmospheres for signs of life at unprecedented detail. They may identify compelling chemical disequilibria indicative of biological processes on planets orbiting nearby stars within 30 lightyears.
Additionally, Breakthrough Starshot aims to develop wafer-sized spacecraft that can reach 20% light speed. This could allow flyby reconnaissance of exoplanets in our stellar neighborhood by the late 2030’s. Further into the future, more ambitious concepts like Project Daedalus propose unmanned, fusion-driven starships that could voyage to nearby stars to directly image exoplanets and explore their atmospheres.
With both government and private astrobiology initiatives multiplying, we are entering a renaissance era of space exploration that may culminate with the historic discovery of life beyond Earth. In the coming decades, we will gain ever more tantalizing insights into whether we are alone in this galaxy. The answer may profoundly change humanity’s cosmic perspective and future.
As new missions spearheaded by NASA, ESA, and private companies access previously unexplored worlds and deploy advanced instrumentation, we are on the cusp of historic discoveries in humanity’s search for life in the cosmos. Even null results would have profound scientific implications. Within our lifetimes, we may finally get an answer to that eternal question – are we alone in the universe?
Conclusion about The Search for Extraterrestrial Life – New Space Missions and Discoveries
The Search for Extraterrestrial Life New Space Missions and Discoveries, The enduring question of whether life exists beyond Earth has ignited human imagination for generations. While past searches produced only tantalizing clues, we have now entered an unprecedented era of space exploration as new missions target places in our solar system and galaxy that could harbor alien life.
Within our solar system, upcoming probes will explore Mars and icy moons with subsurface oceans that show conditions suitable for life. Beyond our neighborhood, next-generation telescopes will analyze the atmospheres of exoplanets around nearby stars for biochemical hints of biology. Breakthrough technologies like nano crafts may even enable direct reconnaissance of promising exoplanets within decades.
Key locations astrobiologists intend to target with urgency include Saturn’s moon Enceladus with its warm ocean vents, the hydrocarbon lakes of Titan, and Jupiter’s ocean world Europa where the Europa Clipper will soon commence detailed studies. Mars also remains a prime search location as rovers like ExoMars drill deep below radiation-bombarded surface soil for preserved organic biosignatures in ancient sediments.
With so many worlds to explore in our cosmic backyard, cross-fertilization between government initiatives at NASA, ESA and private programs by SpaceX and others promise to accelerate the historic search across our galaxy. We have entered an era buzzing with potential for one of humanity’s crowning scientific achievements – the definitive discovery of alien lifeforms beyond our isolated Earth. Each astrobiology mission contributes one more invaluable piece of the puzzle.
Taken collectively, these ambitious explorations of our solar neighborhood and foundational research on the origins of life position us on the cusp of conclusively answering the transcendent question – are we alone? A confirmed discovery in the coming decades now seems more plausible than ever before.
FAQs About the Search for Extraterrestrial Life
What was the first mission searching for extraterrestrial life?
The first mission specifically searching for life beyond Earth was NASA’s Viking 1 and 2 spacecrafts which landed on Mars in 1976 equipped with experiments to detect biosignatures – but results were inconclusive.
Which space agency discovered water on the Moon and Mars?
NASA made the breakthrough discoveries of lunar ice through its LCROSS mission in 2009 and evidence of liquid brines flowing on Mars through its MAVEN orbiter in 2015.
What is NASA’s newest rover exploring Mars?
The Perseverance rover successfully landed on Mars in 2021 and is currently searching for ancient signs of microbial life and collecting rock samples for future return to Earth.
Which telescope found the most exoplanets?
NASA’s Kepler Space Telescope discovered over 2,600 exoplanets between 2009-2018 by observing dips in star brightness caused by transiting planets.
What molecules did Philae detect on comet 67P?
When the Philae lander analyzed comet 67P in 2014, it found 16 different organic compounds like methyl isocyanate and acetone which are precursors to amino acids.
When will NASA return samples from Mars?
NASA aims to return the first samples of Martian soil collected by the Perseverance rover back to Earth by 2033 through the Mars Sample Return campaign.
What are extremophiles?
Extremophiles are organisms like bacteria and microbes on Earth that can thrive in harsh environments with conditions once thought uninhabitable – providing clues of where we might find alien life.
What postponed the launch of the James Webb Space Telescope?
Originally targeted to launch in 2007, the James Webb telescope faced over a decade of delays including technical challenges and cost overruns, before its planned launch in 2021.
What makes Saturn’s moon Titan a priority search target?
With its thick nitrogen atmosphere, organic chemistry, and liquid methane seas – Titan has conditions that resemble early Earth, making it a compelling place to look for potentially habitable environments and prebiotic chemistry.
How soon could we possibly discover extraterrestrial life?
Many scientists predict if life is common in our galaxy, we may detect biosignatures within our solar system in the next 5-20 years through missions to Mars, Europa, and Enceladus.
What is the most likely place we will find alien life in our solar system?
The ocean moons Europa and Enceladus are currently considered the top contenders for discovering extraterrestrial life in our solar system based on evidence they may have liquid water oceans in contact with a rocky core supplying chemical energy.
Disclaimer
This article is for informational purposes only. It summarizes scientific discoveries and future missions related to searching for extraterrestrial life based on publicly available sources. All information is provided without assurance or guarantee. Please consult official mission websites for latest updates as launch timelines, technological capabilities, and mission objectives may change. Interpretations of potential evidence and future search locations for alien life represent the hypothetical opinions of the author.