The next big cooperative European-US space mission will be to Europa, the ice-crusted moon of Jupiter. A joint working team is being set up to consider what sort of spacecraft would be needed and what each side could do. Officials in Washington and Paris are keen to follow up the spectacular success of Cassini-Huygens at Saturn. "It was a beautiful marriage and we really are looking to do a repeat," said Professor David Southwood, from the European Space Agency (Esa). Southwood told the BBC News website that "Europe could do Europa on its own", but that a cooperative venture was extremely attractive. Many scientists agree that Europa is now a high priority target for a major mission. The moon, discovered by Galileo, is slightly smaller than the Earth's Moon. Its covering of white and brownish-tinted ice is riven with cracks that are probably the result of stressing caused by the contorting tidal effects of Jupiter's strong gravity.

Researchers speculate that tidal heating may even have produced vast oceans of water under the ice sheet and that this environment could harbour micro-organisms. The Esa director of science held discussions about Europa with counterparts at the US space agency (Nasa) at the end of last week. "I've definitely piqued their interest," he said. The discussions are at a very early stage - and a mission that would launch no earlier than 2016 is some way off becoming a reality. Nevertheless, Professor Southwood said it was a good time to consider how the two agencies could build on their Saturn experience, which has produced stunning images of the ringed planet and put a lander on the surface of Titan.

View: Full Article | Source: BBC News

Another joint venture might in the long run save both Nasa and the ESA money.With this new push to get a base on the Moon, and then on to Mars the U.S. may run out of money before half the projects are completed. I see Nasa is looking in the private sectors for the ships to replace the shuttles. If I understand their wants, they are looking for a craft that will stay in space(orbit) and fuel and supplys loaded up there. That and a better drive system seems to be the logical next step. Though I still wont live long enough to see most of it done, I do believe in the Space Exploration Programs.

If you want to achieve anything at all out there in space we will need to work together and co-operate to do it. Its just common sense. We cann all contribute resources, funds, facilities, technologies etc......