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 ...
Here is an idea.
Don’t go.
Too expensive and the value is too low.
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+.
Paging Mr. Bailey .... Paging Mr. George Bailey ...
LOL, just about every family has an “Uncle Billy” ...
How about Obama, one-way ticket?
Send mac daddy there so he can f up their planet also.
Barack Obama would make an excellent custodial engineer aboard the mission vehicle.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.