Europa Clipper - Europa
is an icy moon that orbits Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system. The
Galileo space probe confirmed the moon has a thin atmosphere, is covered by thick
ice and flexes tidally. The surface is covered with reddish-brown hatch marks, possibly
left behind by irradiated salt water deposits. The Hubble telescope found water
vapor shooting sixty miles in height, prompting the theory of a subsurface
ocean on this strange world. The USA has planned a new mission of discovery, the
Europa Clipper, named for high seas ship voyages in the not so distant past. For
the first time, a space probe might discover life outside Earth. Still in the
planning stages, the radiation-tolerant spacecraft will use Jupiter’s gravity
to slingshot by the moon, 45 revolutions within 16 miles of the surface. Passing
through the water above the surface will allow analysis of the chemical makeup but
avoids the need to drill through ice layers. NASA is sending instruments aboard
including cameras, spectrometers, radar, magnetometer, thermometer and instruments
to detect atmospheric water and particles. Every great story starts the same
way. What if? Could unimaginable creatures inhabit this familiar yet so alien underwater
world? Truly, this is a new age of exploration.
This is really interesting! And yes...what if? I was just talking about aliens with my 7 year old son just recently. It's such an interesting topic.
ReplyDeleteLife elsewhere is always fascinating.. and Europa looks cool
ReplyDeleteI always wonder about that. I can't imagine that we're the only life, but what if we are. And if we aren't will we ever really know?
ReplyDeleteI know that we are not the only life in this big solar system. I believe there are parts of this world that we have not even discovered because we don't have the technology or ability to travel far and deep into the universe. This is really cool stuff though. I love this stuff.
ReplyDeleteHow cool would it be if there is another life form out there.
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