Key Takeaways:
- 1. A new UK-led space mission, VERVE, will investigate potential microbial life in the clouds of Venus by studying gases like phosphine and ammonia.
- 2. The mission aims to clarify the behavior of these gases and their sources through a CubeSat probe to Venus’s atmosphere.
- 3. While Venus’s surface is inhospitable, conditions in its upper atmosphere could potentially support microbial life.
The VERVE mission, led by Professor Jane Greaves, seeks to explore the presence of microbial life in the clouds of Venus by studying gases like phosphine and ammonia. These gases, which are potential biomarkers, have been detected in Venus's atmosphere. The mission, budgeted at €50 million, will send a CubeSat to Venus to conduct independent research alongside the European Space Agency's 2031 EnVision mission. While Venus's surface is too hot for life, its upper atmosphere may harbor microbial remnants, making it crucial to directly sample its atmosphere for answers about potential life on the planet.
Insight: The VERVE mission represents a significant step in exploring the possibility of microbial life in Venus's clouds, driven by the detection of biomarker gases and the need for direct sampling of the planet's atmosphere to uncover the mysteries of its potential habitability.
This article was curated by memoment.jp from the feed source: The Debrief.
Read the original article here: https://thedebrief.org/have-astronomers-found-signs-of-life-in-venuss-atmosphere-uk-led-verve-mission-aims-to-investigate/
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