""Cassini was detecting samples from Enceladus all the time as it flew through Saturn's E ring,""
""We had already found many organic molecules in these ice grains, including precursors for amino acids.""
""The ice grains contain not just frozen water, but also other molecules, including organics,""
Cassini spacecraft data show jets of water and ice grains erupting from Enceladus's subsurface ocean into space. Analysis of 2008 Cosmic Dust Analyzer oceanspray data identified complex organic molecules within fast-traveling ice grains. The high impact velocity (roughly 11.2 miles per second) prevented clustering on the detector, enabling detection of previously hidden signals. Detected organics include precursors to amino acids and newly observed nitrogen- and oxygen-bearing compounds, ethers, and esters. These molecules participate in chemical reactions similar to those associated with the origin of life on Earth, increasing Enceladus's astrobiological potential.
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