NASA to Miss Europa in 20 Years ?

In summary, NASA is testing an underwater robot in Mexico's El Zacaton sinkhole as a first step towards searching for life on Jupiter's moon, Europa. The sinkhole is 100m wide and over 1,000m deep, and the robot will map and collect samples from the water-filled fissure. This mission is part of a centuries-old effort to understand Jupiter and its moons, with the ultimate goal of finding evidence of life on Europa. However, there may be a typo in the article as the measurements for the sinkhole are incorrect.
  • #1
berkeman
Mentor
67,061
19,879
Why does this article make me think they may miss another one? :rolleyes:

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/story?id=3188967&page=1

NASA Using Mexican Sinkhole to Practice for Jupiter Exploration

NASA is testing an underwater robot in one of Earth's deepest sinkholes in a first step toward searching for life on Jupiter's icy moon, Europa. El Zacaton, near the Gulf coast of northeastern Mexico, is about 100 metres (328 feet) wide and more than 1,000 metres (1,000 feet) deep. It could easily hold the Eiffel Tower. Scientists plan to map and take samples in the dark, water-filled fissure with the 1.5 tonne DEPTHX robot over the next two weeks as a prelude to the proposed navigation of Europa's ice-capped oceans in about 20 years.

The mission is the latest step in a 400-year-old endeavor to understand Jupiter and its distant moons. "We're so sure there's water on Europa that the real question is whether there is also life, whether there's something in the ocean that bugs can eat," said Chris McKay of the NASA Ames Research Center in California.

<more...>

Of course, in fairness to NASA, it may be a Reuters typo. Let's hope so! :rofl:
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #2
:rofl: Nice! As if equating yards to meters wasn't bad enough...

- Warren
 
  • #3
Awesome :rofl:
 
  • #4
Can't these people get anything right? Even a third-grader knows that 100m = 100ft. :grumpy:
 
  • #5
neutrino said:
Can't these people get anything right? Even a third-grader knows that 100m = 100ft. :grumpy:

HAHA! :rofl: :rofl: :biggrin: :tongue:
 

1. What is NASA's plan for exploring Europa in the next 20 years?

NASA's current plan is to send a mission called Europa Clipper to the Jupiter moon in the early 2030s. This mission will orbit Europa and study its surface and interior in detail.

2. Why is it taking so long for NASA to reach Europa?

Europa is one of the furthest objects in our solar system that NASA has attempted to explore. The distance and complexity of the journey require careful planning and advanced technology, which takes time to develop and test.

3. What are the potential benefits of exploring Europa?

Europa is believed to have a subsurface ocean that could potentially harbor life. By studying Europa, we could gain a better understanding of the potential for life beyond Earth and the conditions necessary for its existence.

4. How will NASA's Europa mission differ from previous missions to Jupiter's moons?

NASA's previous missions to Jupiter's moons, such as Galileo and Juno, were focused on studying the moons as a whole. The Europa Clipper mission will specifically target Europa and gather data on its surface and interior, using advanced instruments to search for signs of life.

5. What challenges does NASA face in attempting to reach and explore Europa?

One of the main challenges is the harsh radiation environment around Jupiter, which can damage spacecraft equipment. Additionally, the extreme cold temperatures and icy surface of Europa present technical difficulties for landing and conducting research. However, NASA is developing innovative solutions to overcome these challenges.

Similar threads

NASA Is There Life on Europa? NASA's Study on the Upcoming Lander Mission
    • Aerospace Engineering
Replies
6
Views
2K
JUpiter ICy moons Explorer (JUICE) on it's way to Jupiter
    • Aerospace Engineering
Replies
9
Views
1K
Implications of life being found or not found on Europa
    • Biology and Medical
4
Replies
114
Views
13K
NASA Enceladus Teeming With Life? NASA say maybe.
    • Aerospace Engineering
Replies
4
Views
5K
Intelligent Life on Europa Speculation
    • Astronomy and Astrophysics
Replies
7
Views
8K
Is my fictional Solar System stable and realistic?
    • Sci-Fi Writing and World Building
Replies
21
Views
1K
NASA finds shrimp dinner on ice beneath Antarctica
    • Biology and Medical
Replies
7
Views
2K
A Jovian moon may hold mystery of life
    • General Discussion
Replies
2
Views
2K
Writing: Read Only What Does Great Lakes Earth Look Like from Space?
    • Sci-Fi Writing and World Building
Replies
1
Views
3K
Mars Mission - an act of Lunacy or Science?
    • General Discussion
Replies
13
Views
2K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top