Europa-A Ocean World of our Solar System

Europa, also known as Jupiter II is the smallest Galilean moons orbiting Jupiter. It is the sixth-largest moon of the solar system with radius 1560.8 kms. It was discovered more than 400 years ago by Galileo Galilei.















Europa (Image credit:NASA)

Water in Europa

Scientists assume that a salty Ocean lies beneath Europa's icy crust. During a process known as tidal heating,Jupiter and it's moons stretch and squish each other enough to warm them.Thus,it maintains the liquid state of the ocean.Also,it creates melted pockets, or lakes,throughout the moon's outer shell.
In 2014 and 2016,humble spotted possible water plumes erupting off the Europa's surface. This could be an excellent target for the upcoming Europa Clipper mission.

Europa Clipper Mission 

Europa Clipper Mission (previously known as Europa Multiple Flyby Mission) is an interplanetary mission. It has been planned for launch in 2024 to carry out a detailed survey of Jupiter's moon Europa and investigate whether icy moon could support life.

Europa Clipper which will launch in 2024 will follow a Mars-Earth Gravity Assist (MEGA) flight path. It will travel for about five and half years and will arrive Jupiter in almost April 2030.

The space craft in orbit around Jupiter will route nearly 50 Flyby of Europa at the closest approach during each Flyby to scan nearly the entire moon.




Life beyond Earth

Europa gives a strong evidence of existence of salty Oceans present in it. Beyond Earth, Europa is considered as one of the places where we can find currently habitable environments. Europa Clipper will determine whether there are places below Europa’s surface that could support life.





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