NASA's Cassini spacecraft discovered indirect evidence of hydrothermal vents at the bottom of Enceladus' underground seas. On Earth, hydrothermal vents often support microbial life and other creatures. The discovery suggests Enceladus may harbor microbial life deep below its surface. Cassini is scheduled to crash into Saturn in September 2017 to prevent contamination of Enceladus or Titan from Earth bacteria it may carry.

1. NASA Discovers Hydrothermal
Vents at Enceladus' Sea Floor
Greg Gerkens

2. Introduction
• Greg Gerkens has worked as an educator since 2003. As a science teacher, Greg Gerkens
holds a professional and personal interest in multiple scientific fields, including
astronomy.
In mid-April, NASA announced a discovery that could potentially lead scientists to their
first glimpse of extraterrestrial life. Through the Cassini spacecraft, NASA has discovered
indirect evidence that Enceladus, a moon of Saturn, has hydrothermal vents at the bottom
of its seas. On Earth, deep-sea hydrothermal vents are often hotbeds for microbial life,
worms, and other deep-sea creatures.
Back in 2005, NASA discovered that Enceladus’ surface featured water-shooting geysers
fed by an underground ocean. Some researchers now theorize that hydrothermal vents on
Earth were the source of life on the planet. Thus, Enceladus shows potential for harboring
microbial life, and perhaps more, deep under the surface.
The Cassini space craft is scheduled to be destroyed in September 2017 via an intentional
crash into Saturn, as researchers want to prevent it from colliding with Enceladus or Titan,
another potentially inhabitable moon of Saturn. Scientists fear that if Cassini made contact
with either moon, it could contaminate them with bacteria from Earth.