About us

Extraterrestrial oceans refer to bodies of liquid water located beyond Earth, often found beneath the icy surfaces of moons like Europa, Enceladus, and Titan. These oceans are significant in the context of scientific research and exploration, particularly as they coincide with China's strategic goals in deep-sea and deep-space exploration. This interdisciplinary field merges scientific inquiry with engineering advancements, focusing on the potential for life beyond Earth. In December 2017, the Department of Extraterrestrial Ocean Systems was established to study these oceans and their host moons. The Department's research addresses critical questions regarding the origin and limits of life in the universe. 

Key Focus Include:

1. Circulation of substance and energy: Investigating how these processes shape habitable environments in extraterrestrial oceans.

2. Potential Life Forms and biosignatures: Exploring the types of life that could exist in these oceans and identifying biosignatures that may indicate their presence.

3. Exploration Strategies: Developing technologies and methodologies to effectively explore extraterrestrial oceans and icy moons.

This research is crucial for understanding not only the potential for life beyond Earth, but also the broader implications for planetary habitability, prebiotic and abiotic carbon cycling, and the evolution of life in diverse environments.

Research Objectives:

The Extraterrestrial Ocean Systems Research Department employs a multifaceted approach to enhance our understanding of extraterrestrial oceans on icy moons. The department focuses on investigating fundamental issues, such as the mechanisms of formation and evolution of solar system water bodies, as well as the dynamic processes of matter and energy exchange between these ocean systems and their external environments. Key strategies utilized by the department include leveraging diverse research methods like department and numerical simulations to replicate extraterrestrial ocean conditions and analyzing specimens and data from Earth's extreme deep-sea environments as analogs. The department also aims to establish an integrated "Extraterrestrial Ocean Extreme Environment Simulation System" for comprehensive studies of these enigmatic water bodies. 

Furthermore, our research involves studying the interactions between seawater and the rock sphere in Earth's deep-sea and polar regions, as well as examining how cold-loving organisms adapt to such extreme conditions. This comparative analysis provides valuable insights into the potential habitability of extraterrestrial oceans. In addition, the department conducts preliminary work on deploying and testing extraterrestrial ocean exploration equipment, laying the groundwork for future advancements in technologies necessary for exploring these distant worlds. By integrating these strategies, our group seeks to advance knowledge about the formation, evolution, and potential habitability of extraterrestrial oceans beyond Earth.