Scientists in Europe are hash out the possibility of send a mission to Jupiter ’s icy moon Europa in the dear time to come , one of the most promising locations for alien life in the Solar System .
As describe byBBC News , scientist receive at the Observatoire de Paris this workweek to discuss a number of proposals . These include design to jerk a ride on NASA’sEuropa Multiply - Flyby Mission(EM - FM ) in 2022 , or set up a standalone mission . Discussions will also focus on whether the mission will simply maintain Europa from afar , or execute the more sought - after finish of land on – and break through – the surface .
It should be noted these are very preliminary discussions at the mo . “ Whatever option is choose , it will first have to win the support of the European Space Agency [ ESA ] , ” Jonathan Amos wrote for BBC News .
But the cacophony for a Europa mission is compound . We are clean indisputable it has an underwater ocean , one that may have the necessary conditions for biography to exist – including heat , have by the tidal push and pull of Jupiter .
NASA already has its sights plant on Europa with the EM - FM undertaking , although they have not yet settle if it will include a lander or not . But oneBritish - lead designfor a penetrator could be an pick , which would involve firing a projectile into the surface of Europa at high speeding to dig beneath the surface , or at least reveal stuff underground .
Other proposal discussed by the European scientists include a small planet to hobble a ride with the NASA investigation , or official document either on the spacecraft or the advise NASA “ soft lander , ” which would lightly touch down on the surface of Europa and do science there , similar to how Philae examine Comet 67P - Churyumov / Gerasimenko .
Whatever does materialize next tenner , it ’s clear that many in the science community feel the fourth dimension to search Europa is now , and we have the necessary engineering science to do so . In our quest to find out if we are alone in the universe , this icy moon just a few years ’ change of location by may hold the resolution . Now we just have to go there .
