'A hidden ocean in space': Could NASA’s bold mission reveal alien secrets?
Produced by: BT Desk
Are we alone?
One of the most profound questions humanity asks is whether life exists elsewhere in the Universe. Given the vastness of space, planetary scientists focus on the Solar System, with Europa as a prime candidate for harboring life.
Why Europa?
Europa, one of Jupiter’s moons, has intrigued scientists because it likely contains three key ingredients for life: liquid water, energy, and the right chemistry. These elements have made it a focal point for exploration.
NASA’s Clipper Mission
Set to launch in October 2024, NASA’s Europa Clipper mission aims to determine whether regions under Europa’s icy surface are capable of supporting life. Its findings could reshape our understanding of life beyond Earth.
A Hidden Ocean
Beneath Europa’s thick ice crust lies a massive subsurface ocean, possibly holding twice as much water as Earth’s oceans combined. This ocean might contain the conditions necessary for life, including warmth from Europa’s rocky core.
Tidal Heating Effect
Europa’s elliptical orbit around Jupiter generates tidal heating, which warms its subsurface ocean. This process could create fissures in the ice, allowing nutrients and minerals to seep into the ocean, further supporting the possibility of life.
The Right Chemistry
Europa’s oxygen-rich atmosphere, mineral salts, and organic compounds may seep through fissures into the ocean, creating a potential environment for life, similar to hydrothermal vents found on Earth’s ocean floors.
Awaiting Discoveries
While Clipper isn’t designed to find life, it will determine if life-supporting conditions exist. Future missions could bring us closer to the monumental discovery of life on Europa or other icy moons in our Solar System.
Credit: NASA
Complementary Missions
Europa Clipper and the European Space Agency’s JUICE mission will work together to explore Jupiter’s moons. JUICE will focus on Ganymede, another moon with a potential subsurface ocean, offering even more insights into these icy worlds.
Credit: ESA