On Wednesday, the Cassini spacecraft made its deepest pass through Enceladus’ icy spray. Scientists hope that by collecting samples from lower parts of the plumes, the spacecraft might be able to detect heavier, more complex compounds that could shed light on whether the inner ocean is capable of supporting life. Cassini was also searching for hydrogen, which could indicate whether the ocean floor is active and infusing life-sustaining energy into the ocean. Now the spacecraft has sent back images from its close encounter–the closest a manmade spacecraft has ever come to the source of the plumes, or will come anytime in the near future. The images are still unprocessed, but they’re pretty cool, and they’ll help provide a more detailed understanding of the small moon. “Cassini’s stunning images are providing us a quick look at Enceladus from this ultra-close flyby, but some of the most exciting science is yet to come,” said Linda Spilker, the mission’s project scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. So, what did Cassini find? Unfortunately we’ll have to wait at least a few weeks for the team to analyze the data from the spacecraft’s gas- and dust-collecting instruments. The researchers plan to publish the findings in a peer-reviewed journal before announcing them to the public.
