Europa is the moon of Jupiter. Its surface is beautifully covered in different colors. But Europa also has a hidden ocean under the crust of a thick shell of ice. NASA says that it is a rare opportunity to see something like this so far out into the solar system that may have a chance for life.

Spacecraft Discoveries

NASA (National Aeronautics Space Administration) so far is the only space agency that has sent probes to Jupiter. But none of them have been to study Europa. Pioneer 10 was the first to fly past Jupiter returning the first bury photo of the moon. Pioneer 11 was next to Jupiter and returned better close up photos. And did the first studies of the moon. But with its poor camera view, Europa looked like the sun. NASA later sent the Voyager probes to Jupiter, the space probes successfully took up close photos and made accurate measurements. The Voyager team later came out with their findings saying that Europa had possible ice on its surface. The next spacecraft was different; it was made to orbit Jupiter. The Galileo probe was made to explore Jupiter's moons and the planet itself. Galileo was able to study Europa with many more instruments. Europa's water was found under the surface. NASA shared their findings with the public and Galileo’s findings opened a window to Europa. Juno is in current orbit around Jupiter and has made observations of the moon.

Finding Life

NASA has two planned missions to discover life. The Europa lander is a mission that would go down onto Europa and sample its surface. Then an onboard laboratory would scan the soil for water and test the sample for days. NASA’s other planned mission is known as the Europa Clipper. The probe is due for launch in 2024 its goal will be to orbit Jupiter and make flybys of the moon slowly stripping away the moon's layers. Both missions would be over 300 million dollars but NASA thinks that a mission to this moon could help people find life on another world. ESA (European Space Agency) also has a planned mission called Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer. The probe would try and detect water from orbit.

People really want to know about this moon and if there is a change that life is on it.

Photo credit: NASA/JPL

For more information visit these article links

https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/moons/jupiter-moons/europa/in-depth/

https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/europa-lander

https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/europa-clipper

https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/juice/in-depth/

Sources: NASA,JPL,ESA