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Ideas Wanted for NASA Mission to Jupiter's Icy Moon Europa
space.com ^ | July 16, 2014 01:00pm ET | By Kelly Dickerson, Staff Writer

Posted on 07/17/2014 2:38:08 PM PDT by BenLurkin

According to the report, the future mission should focus on taking a closer look at the ocean that scientists suspect lies below the surface; characterizing its icy crust and looking for any subsurface liquid water; determining the surface composition and chemistry; examining surface features and identifying landing areas for future missions; and understanding the purpose of its magnetosphere — the magnetic field surrounding the celestial body.

NASA officials said the instrument proposals should focus on at least one of these exploration goals. The announcement calls for instruments designed for a spacecraft that will orbit Europa or complete several flybys, since astronomers do not yet have enough data to pinpoint safe landing sites on the icy moon.

One challenge with a mission to Europa is the massive amount of radiation surrounding Jupiter. Any spacecraft and instruments will need to be designed to handle the radiation. Further, a future mission will require extra caution so that anything living on Earth is not introduced into the potentially habitable Europa ocean.

NASA will select about 20 proposals in April 2015. The agency will award $25 million for those selected to further advance the designs of their instruments. The 20 reports will be reviewed, and then NASA officials will select eight winners. NASA will build the winning instruments for flight and send them to Europa.

(Excerpt) Read more at space.com ...


TOPICS: Science
KEYWORDS: europa
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To: BenLurkin

Here is an idea.

Don’t go.

Too expensive and the value is too low.


21 posted on 07/17/2014 3:06:19 PM PDT by Sequoyah101
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To: BenLurkin

I think my Mom still has my volcano from the sixth grade science fair. They could take that. I think I got a B on it. Maybe a C+.


22 posted on 07/17/2014 3:07:40 PM PDT by blueunicorn6 ("A crack shot and a good dancer")
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To: Resettozero
Tie a long rope around it and bring it back home for study

Paging Mr. Bailey .... Paging Mr. George Bailey ...

23 posted on 07/17/2014 3:15:42 PM PDT by mikrofon (Lasso that Moon)
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To: blueunicorn6
...my volcano from the sixth grade science fair.

That's about the level of the "science" they'll plan to utilize once there. Do we still really have a space program?
24 posted on 07/17/2014 3:16:58 PM PDT by Resettozero
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To: mikrofon
Paging Mr. Bailey .... Paging Mr. George Bailey ...

Wasn't Donna Reed just...perfect? (CLANG! I'm alright! I'm alright.)
25 posted on 07/17/2014 3:19:38 PM PDT by Resettozero
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To: Resettozero

LOL, just about every family has an “Uncle Billy” ...


26 posted on 07/17/2014 3:24:11 PM PDT by mikrofon (Lasso that Moon)
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To: BenLurkin

How about Obama, one-way ticket?


27 posted on 07/17/2014 3:28:19 PM PDT by John W (Summer of Recovery VI: This Time We're Serious)
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To: BenLurkin

Send mac daddy there so he can f up their planet also.


28 posted on 07/17/2014 3:31:59 PM PDT by chiefqc
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To: beethovenfan

Barack Obama would make an excellent custodial engineer aboard the mission vehicle.


29 posted on 07/17/2014 3:38:37 PM PDT by Iron Munro (The Obamas Black skin has morphed into Teflon thanks to the Obama Media)
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