Life Locked in Ice: The Long Journey to Explore Europa
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- Опубліковано 29 вер 2024
- Life Locked in Ice: The Long Journey to Explore Europa
Europa, one of Jupiter's moons, is believed to harbor a vast saltwater ocean beneath its icy surface. NASA plans to launch the Europa Clipper in late 2024 to investigate the potential for life in this ocean.
Despite being known for over four centuries, recent telescope observations and six spacecraft flybys have revealed that Europa, unlike Earth's moon, contains a metallic and rocky core surrounded by a massive ocean with twice the amount of water found on Earth. This ocean is covered by smooth, cracked ice that occasionally releases water into Europa's thin atmosphere. The presence of water, energy, and essential elements for organic molecules has captivated planetary scientists, suggesting the possibility of life deep within Europa's ocean, in underground lakes, or under ice surface vents.
(Excerpt from MIT Technology Review)
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