This white paper frames life detection objectives as a systematic progression in our understanding of planetary environments and, within that framing, identifies a suite of research, technology development, and community activities that will advance our readiness to search for evidence of life beyond Earth.
Water-rock interactions, potentially enhanced by tidal heating, could supply the Europan ocean with chemical energy sources and material resources required by active life. An Astrobiology Biosignature Explorer at Europa (ABEE) New Frontier mission would be designed to search for biomolecules contained in plume material.
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