NASA Launching Huge Spacecraft to Jupiter's Moon Europa

Sunday, October 06, 2024

NASA releases photo of ocean world. It shows why NASA's going there. What hides beneath the ice?

Posted by Corky at 05:32 PM | 9 COMMENTS | permalink

"It's perhaps one of the best places beyond Earth to look for life in our solar system," Cynthia Phillips, a NASA planetary geologist and project staff scientist for the space agency's Europa Clipper mission, told Mashable.

"This region sports ice rafts that look like those at Earth's poles, where large chunks of ice break away and float freely on the ocean," the agency wrote.

"Much of the region bears the reddish/brownish discoloration seen here " the same as seen along many of Europa's fractures. Scientists believe this material may contain clues about the composition of an ocean beneath the icy surface, if it is proven to exist."

#1 | Posted by Corky at 2024-10-05 08:48 PM

"The last time this spacecraft will be seen in person."

x.com

#2 | Posted by Corky at 2024-10-05 08:54 PM

Um....that's nice ut aren't there a couple of astronauts syuck on the International Space Station? Rememer them????

#3 | Posted by danni at 2024-10-06 05:38 PM

aren't there a couple of astronauts syuck on the International Space Station?

Their ride home is docked with the ISS now. Returning in February.

#4 | Posted by REDIAL at 2024-10-06 06:31 PM

I know the odds are low but imagine what would happen if it turned out there were vast regions under the ice that were perfectly inhabitable for humans.

#5 | Posted by Tor at 2024-10-06 08:50 PM

HAL is going to guide them to the monolith.

#6 | Posted by BellRinger at 2024-10-07 12:08 AM

Um....that's nice but aren't there a couple of astronauts stuck on the International Space Station? Remember them????
#3 | Posted by danni at 2024-10-06 05:38 PM | Reply | Flag:

These missions are planned and funded years in advance, so while having astronauts "stuck" on ISS is no bueno, it wouldn't derail an unmanned science mission that uses a different rocket and launchpad to execute. It's not like the hardware can be repurposed to fly to ISS and being people home (I kind of blame "The Martian" for this popular misconception).

I only hope that the latest hurricane doesn't impact the mission too much. These launch windows can be finicky.

#7 | Posted by bartimus at 2024-10-07 11:42 AM

All these worlds are yours except Europa. Attempt no landing there.

#8 | Posted by LegallyYourDead at 2024-10-07 03:51 PM

Attempt no landing there.

#8 | POSTED BY LEGALLYYOURDEAD

Yeah. Another entity that didn't understand human nature.

That's like telling humans you can eat anything in the garden except for that one apple tree.

#9 | Posted by donnerboy at 2024-10-08 11:28 AM

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