Hunting for Carbon

 

Dr. Ortega (left) and Dr. Ling (right). They are Rocket Team astrobiologists. 
I took this as we were crossing from Mars night to Mars day in our orbit.

Three of us dropped back to Mars after a long trip out to the main asteroid belt. Dr. Ortega and Dr. Ling let me tag along in the "hunt for carbon", as they call it.

Our regular shuttle from Mars Station 4 was down for repairs, so we took one of Blue Origin's super-plush tourist ships back home to Jezero Crater. Those big windows are spectacular.

We were studying carbon deposits in asteroids. Carbon is a cool element. It forms long chains and rings that all life (that we know about) needs to exist.

We were surprised to find some really big carbon molecules in these rocks out in the cold vacuum of space. While they were not "life" these big molecules are needed before life can start - we think.

If complex carbon molecules and complex chemical activity are found in plain, icy space rocks, maybe it doesn't take much to get life started in those places that have a more decent environment.

This is a cool idea: maybe the whole universe is teeming with life. Alien fish in alien oceans, strange birds in methane skies, or something way different we can't even imagine. I'd like to see it for myself one day!