Grant For Research 80NSSC19K0311

The University of Washington's Office of Sponsored Programs was awarded a $677,073 research grant by a civilian federal agency (Shared Services Center) on December 20, 2018, with completion targeted for December 19, 2026. This non-set-aside grant supports a multi-task research initiative focused on understanding the subsurface ocean composition of Saturn's moon Enceladus. The work addresses a critical knowledge gap between proposed instrument suites and science return for future missions such as the Enceladus Life Finder (ELF) and Enceladus Life Signatures and Habitability (ELSAH). Cassini spacecraft observations have revealed plume activity at Enceladus' south pole containing organic compounds, carbon dioxide, methane, ammonia, and molecular hydrogen—suggesting a potentially habitable environment. However, equilibrium and non-equilibrium fractionation processes during transport from the subsurface ocean to the surface may alter plume composition, complicating efforts to infer true ocean chemistry from plume measurements.

To address this challenge, the University of Washington will execute three primary research tasks: measuring low-temperature properties of gases and aqueous solutions relevant to Enceladus conditions, incorporating experimental and literature data into predictive numerical models, and applying box modeling to understand subsurface ocean and plume composition. Task 1 experimental work will include measuring heat capacities of aqueous solutions to constrain temperature-dependent chemistry models, determining glass transition temperatures and crystal nucleation rates in high-salt solutions, and investigating processes relevant to organic preservation in plume particles. This research will generate essential experimental data at low temperatures and high salt concentrations that currently hinders numerical modeling efforts and will directly support the scientific objectives of NASA's proposed Enceladus exploration missions.