AUTHOR=Brinckerhoff William B. , Willis Peter A. , Ricco Antonio J. , Kaplan Desmond A. , Danell Ryan M. , Grubisic Andrej , Mora Maria F. , Creamer Jessica S. , Noell Aaron , Stern Jennifer , Szopa Cyril , Freissinet Caroline , Kehl Florian , Zamuruyev Konstantin , Castle Conner , Spring Justin , Drevinskas Tomas , Badescu Mircea , Ferreira Santos Mauro S. , Jaramillo Elizabeth A. , van Amerom Friso , Li Xiang , Castillo Marco , Eigenbrode Jennifer , Theiling Bethany , Quinn Richard C. , Stalport Fabien , Buch Arnaud , Zacny Kris 

TITLE=Europan Molecular Indicators of Life Investigation (EMILI) for a Future Europa Lander Mission

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Space Technologies

VOLUME=2

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/space-technologies/articles/10.3389/frspt.2021.760927

DOI=10.3389/frspt.2021.760927

ISSN=2673-5075

ABSTRACT=<p>The Europan Molecular Indicators of Life Investigation (EMILI) is an instrument concept being developed for the Europa Lander mission currently under study. EMILI will meet and exceed the scientific and technical/resource requirements of the organic composition analyzer identified as a core instrument on the Lander. EMILI tightly couples two complementary analytical techniques, based on <italic>1</italic>) liquid extraction and processing with capillary electrophoresis and <italic>2</italic>) thermal and chemical extraction with gas chromatography, to robustly detect, structurally characterize, and quantify the broadest range of organics and other Europan chemicals over widely-varying concentrations. Dual processing and analysis paths enable EMILI to perform a thorough characterization of potential molecular biosignatures and contextual compounds in collected surface samples. Here we present a summary of the requirements, design, and development status of EMILI with projected scientific opportunities on the Europa Lander as well as on other potential life detection missions seeking potential molecular biosignatures <italic>in situ</italic>.</p>