Immediately after the information that the gas phosphine has been found on Venus, interest in our neighboring planet has increased sharply.
Both Nasa, Russian Roscosmos and the Indian space agency Isro are investing in going to Venus.
But maybe it will be a small private company that will be the first to directly look for life there.
- We hope to get a probe on a rocket launched by the private company Rocketlab 2023, says Sara Seager, professor of astrophysics at MIT in Boston.
Phosphine
She specializes in studying the atmospheres of exoplanets and she was involved in the discovery of the gas phosphine 50 km up in the atmosphere of Venus.
It was a news item that was presented just over a week ago.
Phosphine is a by-product of a certain type of bacteria.
So now many are wondering: Can there really be life on Venus?
Sara Seager will now lead a group funded by the organization Breaktrough Initiative, which was created by the Russian billionaire Yuri Mildner a few years ago.
- The space probe will go down through the atmosphere and make measurements in the meantime.
It should look for traces of life, and also for life in itself, says Sara Seager.
Play the clip and hear her tell where any life on Venus could come from.