If watery plumes do burst from Europa’s surface, they might originate not in the moon’s underground ocean, but instead in pockets of brine trapped in the moon’s crust. If that’s so, it could be a source of frustration for those who want to probe Europa’s ocean for possible life. Source: https://earthsky.org/space/jupiter-moon-europa-plumes-salty-water-in-crust…
Tag: europa clipper
The true polar wander of Jupiter’s moon Europa
Cracks in Europa’s surface indicate the moon’s outer ice shell has shifted by as much as 70 degrees over the past several million years. It’s the kind of movement you’d expect from a planetary crust floating on a subsurface ocean. Source: https://earthsky.org/space/europa-ice-shell-70-degree-shift-true-polar-wander…
More evidence that Europa’s ocean is habitable
A new study shown by NASA scientists at the Goldschmidt conference this week provides further evidence that Europa’s ocean is habitable and similar to Earth’s oceans. Source: https://earthsky.org/space/europa-ocean-habitable-goldschmidt-conference…
More evidence for watery plumes on Europa
Scientists in Europe have found more yet evidence for water vapor plumes on Jupiter’s ocean moon Europa. Source: https://earthsky.org/space/europa-water-vapor-plumes-galileo…
Scientists confirm Europa’s water vapor geysers … maybe
New observations appear to confirm the existence of water vapor geysers on Europa. The findings are tantalizing, but some scientists are not convinced yet. Source: https://earthsky.org/space/europa-water-vapor-geysers-goddard…
The Cost For Each SLS Launch Is Over $2 Billion
Acting director of the White House budget office Russell Vought said in a letter that the cost estimate to build and fly a single NASA large Space Launch System rocket in a given year is “more than $2 billion.” “The article then notes how this cost is affecting the Europa Clipper mission, which has three launch options, with SLS mandated by…
How small is the smallest habitable exoplanet?
Where can we expect to find life beyond Earth? A new study has redefined the lower limit in mass for habitable exoworlds. It suggests that low-mass waterworlds might exist and might be a place to look. Source: https://earthsky.org/space/small-rocky-exoplanets-can-still-be-habitable…
Europa: there may be life on Jupiter’s moon and two new missions will pave the way for finding it
It’s brilliant news. In just over a decade, there will be two spacecraft exploring one of the most habitable worlds in the solar system—Jupiter’s moon Europa. That’s thanks to a recent announcement by NASA that the orbiter Europa Clipper has been given the go ahead, scheduled to reach the moon at the beginning of the 2030s. Source: https://phys.org/news/2019-08-europa-life-jupiter-moon-missions.html…