On the Habitability and Future Exploration of Ocean Worlds

K. Hand (1) , C. Sotin (1) , A. Hayes (2) , A. Coustenis (3)

1 JPL - Jet Propulsion Laboratory
2 Cornell University [New York]
3 LESIA - Laboratoire d'études spatiales et d'instrumentation en astrophysique = Laboratory of Space Studies and Instrumentation in Astrophysics

Liquid water oceans are now predicted to exist beneath the icy shells of numerous worlds in the outer solar system. These ocean worlds are prime targets in our search for evidence of life beyond Earth, and specifically extant life. Here we review the conditions that may lead to several of these worlds being habitable, and provide a framework for the future exploration of these astrobiologically compelling targets.

Domains: Sciences of the Universe [physics]

K. Hand, C. Sotin, A. Hayes, A. Coustenis. On the Habitability and Future Exploration of Ocean Worlds. Space Science Reviews, 2020, 216 (5), ⟨10.1007/s11214-020-00713-7⟩. ⟨insu-02993658⟩