Analyzing Earth’s Processes for Space Exploration: Carrying our Knowledge of Life Beyond Earth

Abstract:

With the vast amount of research that has been conducted on the Earth and Moon, a bright path has been paved that prompts for exploration to new worlds. As technology rapidly advances, future generations can terraform new planets for the expansion of the human race. Our main method for this project consisted of analyzing key components that Earth provides in order to support life and comparing these characteristics to a hypothetical exoplanet. By conducting research, we sought ways to apply existing scientific ideologies and theories to extraterrestrial environments. An ideal atmosphere is dense and consists of the essential elements like carbon dioxide, oxygen, hydrogen and nitrogen, thus allowing for crucial processes for life to take place. Furthermore, an atmosphere suitable for life also signifies facilitation of the water cycle, an essential process needed to provide clean water for living organisms to thrive. Also with the evidence of oxygen and hydrogen, we can infer the possibilities of natural water sources. Additionally, for more reliable sources, water could be generated through Cloud seeding, a process by which silver iodide is used to form ice crystals that fall as rain or snow. Earth pre-life only showed signs of oxygen in the ocean, however, through the process of photosynthesis, microorganisms released oxygen into the atmosphere. From this observation, we can theorize that because organisms breathe in oxygen, the appearance of it in an atmosphere can indicate the existence of life. Therefore, abundant amounts of carbon dioxide, water(reactants) and oxygen(product) support the occurrence of photosynthesis, thus proving sustainability of life.