Searching for Life on Europa: Jupiter's Frozen Moon - The Universe & Space

NASA's Europa Clipper mission is investigating Jupiter's icy moon, Europa, to determine if its subsurface ocean, containing more water than Earth's oceans, can support life. Launching in 2024 to arrive in the 2030s, it will study the ice shell, composition, and geological activity, specifically hunting for organic compounds and identifying potential hydrothermal energy sources.
Europa is considered a premier spot to search for life because of its long-lived, stable, and warm internal environment. The interaction between surface ice and the ocean, driven by Jupiter's intense radiation, could provide essential oxidants needed for life, potentially making it a "second origin" for life in the solar system.


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