Proyecto de Investigación: ESTRATEGIAS DE EXPLORACION ASTROBIOLOGICA DE LUNAS HELADAS CON OCEANOS: SIMULACIONES EXPERIMENTALES DE APOYO A LAS MISIONES JUICE, EUROPA CLIPPER Y EUROPA LANDER
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ESP2017-89053-C2-1-P
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Detection of Potential Lipid Biomarkers in Oxidative Environments by Raman Spectroscopy and Implications for the ExoMars 2020-Raman Laser Spectrometer Instrument Performance.
(Mary Ann Liebert Publishers, 2020-03-02) Carrizo, D.; Muñoz Iglesias, V.; Fernández Sampedro, M.; Gil Lozano, C.; Sánchez García, L.; Prieto Ballesteros, O.; Medina, J.; Rull, F.; Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI); Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (MINECO); Fernández Sampedro, M. [0000-0003-1932-7591]; Lozano, C. G. [0000-0003-3500-2850]; Muñoz Iglesias, V. [0000-0002-1159-9093]; Sánchez García, L. [0000-0002-7444-1242]; Prieto Ballesteros, O. [0000-0002-2278-1210]; Carrizo, D. [0000-0003-1568-4591]; Unidad de Excelencia Científica María de Maeztu Centro de Astrobiología del Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial y CSIC, MDM-2017-0737
The aim of the European Space Agency's ExoMars rover mission is to search for potential traces of present or past life in the swallow subsurface (2 m depth) of Mars. The ExoMars rover mission relies on a suite of analytical instruments envisioned to identify organic compounds with biological value (biomarkers) associated with a mineralogical matrix in a highly oxidative environment. We investigated the feasibility of detecting basic organics (linear and branched lipid molecules) with Raman laser spectroscopy, an instrument onboard the ExoMars rover, when exposed to oxidant conditions. We compared the detectability of six lipid molecules (alkanes, alkanols, fatty acid, and isoprenoid) before and after an oxidation treatment (15 days with hydrogen peroxide), with and without mineral matrix support (amorphous silica rich vs. iron rich). Raman and infrared spectrometry was combined with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to determine detection limits and technical constrains. We observed different spectral responses to degradation depending on the lipid molecule and mineral substrate, with the silica-rich material showing better preservation of organic signals. These findings will contribute to the interpretation of Raman laser spectroscopy results on cores from the ExoMars rover landing site, the hydrated silica-enriched delta fan on Cogoon Vallis (Oxia Planum).
Joint Europa Mission (JEM): a multi-scale study of Europa to characterize its habitability and search for extant life
(Elsevier BV, 2020-11-15) Blanc, M.; Prieto Ballesteros, O.; André, N.; Gómez Elvira, J.; Jones, G.; Sterken, V.; Desprats, W.; Gurvits, L. I.; Khurana, K.; Balmino, G.; Blöcker, A.; Broquet, R.; Bunce, E.; Cavel, C.; Choblet, G.; Colins, G.; Coradini, M.; Cooper, J.; Dirkx, D.; Fontaine, D.; Garnier, P.; Gaudin, D.; Hartogh, P.; Hussmann, H.; Genova, A.; Less, L.; Jäggi, A.; Kempf, S.; Krupp, N.; Lara, L.; Lasue, J.; Lainey, V.; Leblanc, F.; Lebreton, J. P.; Longobardo, A.; Lorenz, R.; Martins, P.; Martins, Z.; Marty, J. C.; Masters, A.; Mimoun, D.; Palumba, E.; Parro García, V.; Regnier, P.; Saur, J.; Schutte, A.; Sittler, E. C.; Spohn, T.; Srama, R.; Stephan, K.; Szego, K.; Tosi, F.; Vance, S.; Wagner, R.; Van Hoolst, T.; Volwerk, M.; Wahlund, J. E.; Westall, F.; Wurz, P.; Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (MINECO); Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI); 0000-0003-4002-2434; 0000-0002-2278-1210; 0000-0002-1797-2741; 0000-0002-9820-8584; Unidad de Excelencia Científica María de Maeztu Centro de Astrobiología del Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial y CSIC, MDM-2017-0737
Europa is the closest and probably the most promising target to search for extant life in the Solar System, based on complementary evidence that it may fulfil the key criteria for habitability: the Galileo discovery of a sub-surface ocean; the many indications that the ice shell is active and may be partly permeable to transfer of chemical species, biomolecules and elementary forms of life; the identification of candidate thermal and chemical energy sources necessary to drive a metabolic activity near the ocean floor.
In this article we are proposing that ESA collaborates with NASA to design and fly jointly an ambitious and exciting planetary mission, which we call the Joint Europa Mission (JEM), to reach two objectives: perform a full characterization of Europa's habitability with the capabilities of a Europa orbiter, and search for bio-signatures in the environment of Europa (surface, subsurface and exosphere) by the combination of an orbiter and a lander. JEM can build on the advanced understanding of this system which the missions preceding JEM will provide: Juno, JUICE and Europa Clipper, and on the Europa lander concept currently designed by NASA (Maize, report to OPAG, 2019).
We propose the following overarching goals for our Joint Europa Mission (JEM): Understand Europa as a complex system responding to Jupiter system forcing, characterize the habitability of its potential biosphere, and search for life at its surface and in its sub-surface and exosphere. We address these goals by a combination of five Priority Scientific Objectives, each with focused measurement objectives providing detailed constraints on the science payloads and on the platforms used by the mission. The JEM observation strategy will combine three types of scientific measurement sequences: measurements on a high-latitude, low-altitude Europan orbit; in-situ measurements to be performed at the surface, using a soft lander; and measurements during the final descent to Europa's surface.
The implementation of these three observation sequences will rest on the combination of two science platforms: a soft lander to perform all scientific measurements at the surface and sub-surface at a selected landing site, and an orbiter to perform the orbital survey and descent sequences. We describe a science payload for the lander and orbiter that will meet our science objectives.
We propose an innovative distribution of roles for NASA and ESA; while NASA would provide an SLS launcher, the lander stack and most of the mission operations, ESA would provide the carrier-orbiter-relay platform and a stand-alone astrobiology module for the characterization of life at Europa's surface: the Astrobiology We Laboratory (AWL). Following this approach, JEM will be a major exciting joint venture to the outer Solar System of NASA and ESA, working together toward one of the most exciting scientific endeavours of the 21st century: to search for life beyond our own planet.
Raman spectroscopy coupled to principal component analysis for studying UO2 nuclear fuels with different grain sizes due to the chromia addition
(Elsevier BV, 2021-01-08) Milena Pérez, A.; Bonales, L. J.; Rodríguez Villagra, N.; Fernández Carretero, Sergio; Baonza, V. G.; Cobos, J.; Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI); European Research Council (ERC); Milena Pérez, A. [0000-0002-4413-6693]; Baonza, V. G. [0000-0001-9994-0980]; Unidad de Excelencia Científica María de Maeztu Centro de Astrobiología del Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial y CSIC, MDM-2017-0737
Current necessities of nuclear power plants have led to increase burn-up of the fuel during operation. In this context, some undesirable processes, such as a higher release of gaseous fission products, may occur. New UO2-based fuels are being developed by adding doping agents. Chromia (Cr2O3) has proved to considerably enhance grain growth during sintering, and thus promote the retention of these fission products. The study of these Cr-doped UO2 fuels at in situ conditions would allow testing the real performance of the fuel in operating conditions. The existence of Raman portable instruments makes this scenario feasible. But first, the measurement protocols need to be developed. Therefore, in this paper, we explore the use of Raman spectroscopy as an approach for the analysis of the effect of Cr2O3 addition in a set of UO2single bondCr2O3 sintered pellets. The validity of Raman is demonstrated by using Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Three Principal Components describe 98.8% of the total variance of the data, and they are related to the main Raman modes of the samples. In addition, SEM images have shown the presence of bigger precipitates of Cr2O3 not only when the solubility limit of Cr3+ is exceeded, but also when it is not reached. By XRD, the well-known Vegard behavior is observed, and a solubility limit of Cr3+dissolved into the UO2 matrix is found to be (748±16) ppm for the particular sintering conditions used.
The Complex Molecules Detector (CMOLD): A Fluidic-Based Instrument Suite to Search for (Bio)chemical Complexity on Mars and Icy Moons
(Mary Ann Liebert Publishers, 2020-09-15) Fairén, Alberto G.; Gómez Elvira, J.; Briones, C.; Prieto Ballesteros, O.; Rodríguez Manfredi, J. A.; López Heredero, R.; Belenguer, T.; Moral, A.; Moreno Paz, M.; Parro García, V.; European Research Council (ERC); Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI); Briones, C. [0000-0003-2213-8353]; Prieto Ballesteros, O. [0000-0002-2278-1210]; López Heredero, R. [0000-0002-2197-8388]; Unidad de Excelencia Científica María de Maeztu Centro de Astrobiología del Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial y CSIC, MDM-2017-0737
Organic chemistry is ubiquitous in the Solar System, and both Mars and a number of icy satellites of the outer Solar System show substantial promise for having hosted or hosting life. Here, we propose a novel astrobiologically focused instrument suite that could be included as scientific payload in future missions to Mars or the icy moons: the Complex Molecules Detector, or CMOLD. CMOLD is devoted to determining different levels of prebiotic/biotic chemical and structural targets following a chemically general approach (i.e., valid for both terrestrial and nonterrestrial life), as well as their compatibility with terrestrial life. CMOLD is based on a microfluidic block that distributes a liquid suspension sample to three instruments by using complementary technologies: (1) novel microscopic techniques for identifying ultrastructures and cell-like morphologies, (2) Raman spectroscopy for detecting universal intramolecular complexity that leads to biochemical functionality, and (3) bioaffinity-based systems (including antibodies and aptamers as capture probes) for finding life-related and nonlife-related molecular structures. We highlight our current developments to make this type of instruments flight-ready for upcoming Mars missions: the Raman spectrometer included in the science payload of the ESAs Rosalind Franklin rover (Raman Laser Spectrometer instrument) to be launched in 2022, and the biomarker detector that was included as payload in the NASA Icebreaker lander mission proposal (SOLID instrument). CMOLD is a robust solution that builds on the combination of three complementary, existing techniques to cover a wide spectrum of targets in the search for (bio)chemical complexity in the Solar System.
Molecular and isotopic biogeochemistry on recently-formed soils on King George Island (Maritime Antarctica) after glacier retreat upon warming climate
(Elsevier BV, 2021-02-10) Vega García, S.; Sánchez García, L.; Prieto Ballesteros, O.; Carrizo, D.; Instituto Antartico Uruguayo (IAU); Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI); Comunidad de Madrid; Sánchez García, L. [0000-0002-7444-1242]; Unidad de Excelencia Científica María de Maeztu Centro de Astrobiología del Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial y CSIC, MDM-2017-0737
Maritime Antarctica is a climate-sensitive region that has experienced a continuous increase of temperature over the last 50 years. This phenomenon accelerates glacier retreat and promotes the exposure of ice-covered surfaces, triggering physico-chemical alteration of the ground and subsequent soil formation. Here, we studied the biogeochemical composition and evolution extent of soil on three recently exposed peninsulas (Fildes, Barton and Potter) on Southwest (SW) King George Island (KGI). Nine soil samples were analyzed for their lipid biomarkers, stable isotope composition, bulk geochemistry and mineralogy. Their biomarkers profiles were compared to those of local fresh biomass of microbial mats (n = 3) and vegetation (1 moss, 1 grass, and 3 lichens) to assess their contribution to the soil organic matter (SOM). The molecular and isotopic distribution of lipids in the soil samples revealed contributions to the SOM dominated by biogenic sources, mostly vegetal (i.e. odd HMW n-alkanes distributions and generally depleted δ13C ratios). Microbial sources were also present to a lesser extent (i.e. even LMW n-alkanes and n-alkanoic acids, heptadecane, 1-alkenes, 9-octadecenoic acid, or iso/anteiso 15: 0 and 17:0 alkanoic acids). Additional contribution from petrogenic sources (bedrock erosion-derived hydrocarbons) was also considered although found to be minor. Results from mineralogy (relative abundance of plagioclases and virtual absence of clay minerals) and bulk geochemistry (low chemical weathering indexes) suggested little chemical alteration of the original geology. This together with the low content of total nitrogen and organic carbon, as well as moderate microbial activity in the soils, confirmed little edaphological development on the recently-exposed KGI surfaces. This study provides molecular and isotopic fingerprints of SOM composition in young Antarctic soils, and contributes to the understanding of soil formation and biogeochemistry in this unexplored region which is currently being affected by thermal destabilization.
