The Hydrothermal Vent BioSampler (HVB) currently being developed at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory is designed to collect large-volume samples of hydrothermal vent fluid, operating with fluid temperatures reaching 400?C and vent at dedepths of up to 6,500 meters. The primary goal of the project is to collect 'pristine' samples untainted by the surrounding waters. Analysis of the collected samples can reveal the existence of thermophillic organisms within the vent fluid, extending the upper limits of life with respect to thermo-tolerance. Any biology found at such environments can contribute to research in astrobiology, while the technology developed for the system can contribute to biocontainment techniques useful for Arctic and planetary exploration.
