Secrets of Europa

Last October, NASA sent a massive $4 billion spacecraft to Europa, one of Jupiter’s 95 moons. The craft, called Europa Clipper, will journey for nearly 6 years and more than 1.8 billion miles to reach its destination.

We can’t send humans that far into space yet, so there are no people on Europa Clipper. But imagine if there were! What might they encounter on this mysterious moon? You’re/Your about to find out.

 The first thing you might notice on Europa is the sky. Even if you were to arrive in the morning, the stars would be twinkling overhead. Why? Here on Earth, gases in our atmosphere scatter the sun’s light during the day, blocking out starlight. Europa, however, has very little atmosphere, so the stars are always visible.
 
 Watch you’re/your step while you’re/your taking in the views though. Europa’s surface is covered in ice and deep cracks.

Why is NASA sending a spacecraft to such a perilous place? Evidence suggests that an ocean exists beneath the ice on Europa, and scientists suspect that organisms, such as bacteria, could be living in the water. When the craft reaches Europa in 2030, one of its jobs will be to search for the ocean—and to hunt for any alien life that may be living in it. Until then, you’re/your just going to have to keep imagining what life might be like in the faraway, frozen world of Europa. 

 The biggest danger on Europa is radiation. Jupiter constantly emits deadly waves of energy. Without heavy layers of protection, you’re/your body would not stand a chance against these invisible rays of death. The radiation on Europa can kill a person in minutes.