The jackpot may be found between 2,600ft to 5,000ft deep. There, the researchers hope to locate signs of the peak ring, or the inner lip of the crater. The data should not only verify existing impact models, but show whether or not the ring was a prime breeding ground for microbes that helped return life to the region. If so, it would suggest that the first organisms to come back thrived on the iron and sulfur deposited in the area, not the usual life-giving elements.

The drilling platform will carry on for two months, and it's a risky procedure -- there's no second chance if the operation goes awry partway down. Should it succeed, though, it'll help fill a gap in Earth's history and illustrate just how persistent life can be despite seemingly insurmountable odds.