What unique advantage does Enceladus offer scientists seeking to sample its subsurface ocean composition?
Answer
Plumes of subsurface water erupting into space provide a direct, accessible sample without deep drilling.
Enceladus presents a distinct advantage for astrobiological exploration because it actively vents its internal ocean contents into space through cracks near its south pole. These observed plumes allow scientists to capture and analyze samples of the ocean's water composition directly. This capability bypasses the tremendous engineering challenge of drilling through many miles of solid ice, a hurdle that makes sampling the deep Martian reservoirs far more complex currently.
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