Waspie_Dwarf Posted April 19, 2016 #1 Share Posted April 19, 2016 European scientists set eyes on ice moon Europa European scientists are meeting this week to consider their best option for exploring Europa, the moon of Jupiter.They have a number of ideas that could fit as add-ons to US missions that are likely to be launched in the 2020s. The concepts range from remote-sensing instruments to penetrators that would try to burrow beneath Europa's ice-encrusted surface. Whatever option is chosen, it will first have to win the support of the European Space Agency. Read more... 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandpa Greenman Posted April 19, 2016 #2 Share Posted April 19, 2016 Good for them. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeeSember Posted April 20, 2016 #3 Share Posted April 20, 2016 I am just happy any time someone does something along these lines. Seems like we should be past this point by now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Likely Guy Posted April 20, 2016 #4 Share Posted April 20, 2016 (edited) European scientists set eyes on ice moon Europa. Apt. Edited April 20, 2016 by Likely Guy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merc14 Posted April 20, 2016 #5 Share Posted April 20, 2016 2022 launch date. I wish I was years younger. Golden age folks, enjoy it while you live through it 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paperdyer Posted April 20, 2016 #6 Share Posted April 20, 2016 Is there any speculation of what type of life NASA thinks they will find? Europa is a long way from the temperature zone scientists quote all the time when they go looking for extraterrestrial life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vox Posted April 20, 2016 #7 Share Posted April 20, 2016 ALL THESE WORLDS ARE YOURS—EXCEPT EUROPA ATTEMPT NO LANDING THERE Someone had to do it 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silent Trinity Posted April 20, 2016 #8 Share Posted April 20, 2016 Finally they are going to Europa, should have done this a long time ago, always fascinated me this particular moon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calibeliever Posted April 20, 2016 #9 Share Posted April 20, 2016 (edited) Is there any speculation of what type of life NASA thinks they will find? Europa is a long way from the temperature zone scientists quote all the time when they go looking for extraterrestrial life. When I was a little kid science hadn't yet imagined life existing without sunlight as the main energy source. Even life at the bottom of the ocean was assumed to exist on the bio snow that rained down from the surface as animals above died and decayed. In '77 when they discovered life that thrived on hydrogen sulfide around thermal vents or "smokers" at extreme depths, it exploded our range of conditions where we thought life could exist. Europa has a potential heat source similar to those vents because of the massive gravitational stresses put on it by orbiting Jupiter. It's likely that this stretches and deforms the rocky core of that moon and releases vast amounts of heat from friction. With a heat source and all the necessary chemicals for life who knows what they will find. I just hope I live long enough to find out Edited April 20, 2016 by Calibeliever Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeastieRunner Posted April 20, 2016 #10 Share Posted April 20, 2016 Do they expect to find anything alive (including bacteria, etc.) or is still a shot in the dark on that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toast Posted April 20, 2016 #11 Share Posted April 20, 2016 Is there any speculation of what type of life NASA thinks they will find? Science does not speculate. Europa is a long way from the temperature zone scientists quote all the time when they go looking for extraterrestrial life. The habitable zone for exoplanets is defined by the surface temperature range that would keep water liquid. The Galileo mission to Jupiter collected data of Europa that gave the option of liquid water below the ice crust of Europa. On earth, fish can live pretty well in such an environment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paperdyer Posted April 20, 2016 #12 Share Posted April 20, 2016 Science does not speculate. The habitable zone for exoplanets is defined by the surface temperature range that would keep water liquid. The Galileo mission to Jupiter collected data of Europa that gave the option of liquid water below the ice crust of Europa. On earth, fish can live pretty well in such an environment. Isn't a theory a speculation based on assumptions you want to prove? Seems that way based on some design of experiments I've seen. You have a preconceived notion (speculation) and you try to prove it if youe can. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calibeliever Posted April 20, 2016 #13 Share Posted April 20, 2016 Isn't a theory a speculation based on assumptions you want to prove? Seems that way based on some design of experiments I've seen. You have a preconceived notion (speculation) and you try to prove it if youe can. On the whole I'd have to agree with you. I stumbled across this the other day: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waspie_Dwarf Posted April 21, 2016 Author #14 Share Posted April 21, 2016 Isn't a theory a speculation based on assumptions you want to prove? Seems that way based on some design of experiments I've seen. You have a preconceived notion (speculation) and you try to prove it if youe can. Nope. A scientific theory is basically something that has been proven to be true. A scientific hypothesis is a proposed explanation for a phenomena. It is based on observation. Since there are no observations about life on Europa one way or another toast is right, science doesn't speculate. That doesn't mean scientists don't speculate. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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