Jupiter Moon May Have Life -- Experts Urge a Mission

True_Blue

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Thu Mar-24-05 11:30 PM
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Jupiter Moon May Have Life -- Experts Urge a Mission

Scientists say Jupiter's moon Europa rivals Mars as a potential refuge for life. Some of them are now urging NASA to explore the ice-covered satellite.

"It takes longer to get there , it's more expensive, and a bigger deal to plan a mission. But if I had a choice, I'd go for Europa," said Lynn Rothschild, an astrobiologist with the NASA Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, California.

Rothschild studies the origins of life on Earth and other planets. She's intrigued by Europa because it appears to contain likely key ingredients for life—water, an energy source, organic compounds, and billions of years of development.

Taken together, these ingredients are sufficient to support life, scientists say. To answer the question of whether life actually exists on Europa, however, requires further exploration with orbiters and landers like those currently exploring Mars. (See picture of and news about Mars's newfound "frozen sea.")

more....
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/03/0323_050323_jupitereuropa.html

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toymachines

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Thu Mar-24-05 11:38 PM
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1. has bush ever expressed a position on extraterrestial life?

i couldnt see him sending any probes on a look for life anywhere. then the earth wouldnt be special.

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kineneb

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Thu Mar-24-05 11:38 PM
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2. Hmm...why is "Also sprach Zarathustra" playing in my head

The place might have a similar "primordial soup" like what is conjectured to have developed on this planet. Jupiter is rather farther from the sun.

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politicat

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Fri Mar-25-05 12:56 AM
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4. But, Jupiter, I seem to recall, emits more heat than it takes in.

So Europa could benefit from that "mini-sun" effect.

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phantom power

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Fri Mar-25-05 09:28 AM
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5. Tidal heating would be the main energy source.

The ecology might be something like what we see around deep-sea vents. No light, but plenty of geothermal energy.

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Gman

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Thu Mar-24-05 11:40 PM
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3. All These Worlds Are Yours, Except Europa. Attempt No Landing There

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