Cassini finds organic matter on Enceladus

Pasadena, Calif. -- The U.S. space agency's Cassini spacecraft has identified organic material erupting from Saturn's moon Enceladus.

The data was obtained during a close March 12 flyby through a geyser erupting from the moon's surface. Scientists said they were amazed to discover the tiny moon is so active and brimming with water vapor and organic chemicals.

Hunter Waite of the Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio, the principal investigator for Cassini's ion and neutral mass spectrometer, said Enceladus' chemistry was a "completely unexpected surprise" and raises many questions about the formation of the Saturn system.

Dennis Matson, Cassini project scientist added: "Enceladus has got warmth, water and organic chemicals, some of the essential building blocks needed for life. We have quite a recipe for life on our hands, but we have yet to find the final ingredient, liquid water, but Enceladus is only whetting our appetites for more."

At closest approach, Cassini was 30 miles from the moon's surface. Cassini's next flyby of Enceladus will occur in August.

The Cassini-Huygens mission is a cooperative project of the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the European and Italian space agencies.

Copyright 2008 by United Press International.