Philae Finds Life's Precursors on Comet 67P [PHOTOS]
The space probe Philae has discovered building blocks of life during its mission on Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko.
According to Christian Science Monitor, Philae's objectives after it was released from its mothership Rosetta on November 12 last year, was to collect air and surface samples. These experiments were expected to begin after the probe had touchdown but Philae had to carry them out in flight, after a surface rebound as its harpoons had failed to latch it to the comet's surface. Samples for both experiments were successfully collected.
The COSAC instrument which collected dust samples when the lander first touched down before taking flight again, revealed presence of 16 organic compounds including methyl isocyanate, acetone, propionaldehyde and acetamide, which according to the European Space Agency, have never been detected on comets.
Analysis of air samples by the Ptolemy instrument showed water vapor, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide with smaller amounts of formaldehyde.
The findings have excited astronomers as these nitrogen-rich carbon compounds are ingredients in building blocks of life including amino acids and nucleobases which are part of DNA.
"Taken together, these first pioneering measurements performed on the surface of a comet are profoundly changing our view of these worlds and continuing to shape our impression of the history of the Solar System," says Jean-Pierre Bibring, a lead lander scientist.
Comets are known to be remnants of the solar system formation process which took place more than four billion years ago. Presence of organic chemicals on comets could indicate the coming together of life even before the formation of planets and other celestial bodies.
