When scientists scan the universe for distant planets, one thing they’re looking for is whether a planet is orbiting in a location where water can be liquid. When NASA and other agencies send probes and orbiters to Mars, one of their overriding goals is to search for water. On Earth, where we find water, we find life. All this makes our lack of focus on Europa, one of Jupiter’s moons and a place where we know for sure that there is water, more than a little confusing.
Previously, says Seth Borenstein for the Associated Press, NASA probes, including Galileo in the 1990s, have buzzed Europa. But we’ve never sent a probe to really check out the watery moon, which has a thick icy cap and, scientists think, a massive subsurface ocean. Late last year NASA reported that plumes of water were seen venting from Europa’s southern pole.
The mission, if it survives the budget revision process, and is funded in subsequent years, could fly by the mid-2020s.
Source: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/
Dear User/Visitor! Please, answer on our questions: tick off one of the positions – your answer will make us able to improve our site and make it more interesting and useful!