How NASA Plans to Discover Alien Life on Jupiter’s Moon, Europa | Countdown To Launch

The perfect conditions for alien life might be hidden under the icy crust of Jupiter’s moon, Europa. And a new mission from NASA plans to send the Europa Clipper to explore.

The search for extraterrestrial life extends into the far reaches of the galaxy and while there are several distant candidate exoplanets, the most promising destination for alien life might be right in our celestial backyard.

The perfect conditions for alien life could be hidden under the icy crust of Jupiter’s moon, Europa.

And since Europa is in our solar system, we can actually visit Jupiter’s moon.

A new mission from NASA just got the green light to proceed with building an in-depth, investigative orbiter named Europa Clipper. Europa Clipper will be the first time we send a spacecraft to a moon other than our own, and perhaps, uncover that we might not be alone in the universe.

NASA has reason to believe that Europa is potentially habitable as a result of the information sent over from the Hubble Space Telescope and from other previous space missions that took measurements of the moon’s surface while passing by.

And from one of these flybys, the strongest piece of evidence of Europa’s ocean emerged.

Life as we know it needs at least three requirements: liquid water, the right chemical elements, and an energy source. And while this icy world has water, and possible elements, it’s been hard to nail down an energy source on Europa, but NASA’s Europa Clipper orbiter is prepared to find it.

Learn more about the Europa Clipper, one of the most ambitious missions ever attempted by NASA, and how this mission could change our perspective of life in the universe forever on this episode of Elements.

Read More:
Europa Clipper's Mission to Jupiter’s Icy Moon Confirmed
"The mission will conduct an in-depth exploration of Jupiter's moon, Europa, and investigate whether the icy moon could harbor conditions suitable for life, honing our insights into astrobiology. To develop this mission in the most cost-effective fashion, NASA is targeting to have the Europa Clipper spacecraft complete and ready for launch as early as 2023."

Europa
"Scientists think Europa’s ice shell is 10 to 15 miles (15 to 25 kilometers) thick, floating on an ocean 40 to 100 miles (60 to 150 kilometers) deep. So while Europa is only one-fourth the diameter of Earth, its ocean may contain twice as much water as all of Earth’s oceans combined."

Europa Clipper Instruments
"An ice penetrating radar will determine the thickness of the moon's icy shell and search for subsurface lakes similar to those beneath Antarctica. The mission also will carry a magnetometer to measure strength and direction of the moon's magnetic field, which will allow scientists to determine the depth and salinity of its ocean."

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Countdown to Launch takes a deep dive into upcoming space missions from around the world. We interview the people involved and explore the science, innovation and technology that makes them possible.

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[petertwiss]

LETS DO THIS NASA! HURRY UP I'M GETTING OLDER

[playernameselym]

So if ever there are life in Europa, are we going to call them Europeans?

[mspointsfre]

I hope we find an advanced civilization of dolphins living under europas ice

[exoplanets]

Extraterrestrial life is *waiting to be discovered*

[swinde]

0:32 ... This will be the second time we have sent a spacecraft to a moon not our own. Remember Titan and Cassini's Huygens probe?

[lookoutpiano]

Missions like this make me want to take better care of my body. I know that probably sounds strange, but thinking about all of the possible things we could discover in the future makes me want to live as long as I can (to experience them).

[HistoryExplained]

Thank you for all the fascinating and educational content Seeker!

[Master_Therion]

0:31 "This will be the first time we send a spacecraft to a moon other than our own."
Huygens Probe: They forgot about me :( *Sad spacecraft noises...

[anthony]

Even if they find anything it will be classified. They'll say nothing to see here.

[peavri]

The first time on another moon other than our moon? What about Titan Cassini–Huygens?

[Meme-kjwx]

Why do we need to find them on Jupiter when they are right in Area 51!?

[peanutrbuckle]

I’m pretty sure we’re not alone in the universe there bud

[rajk.]

1969:We will colonize moon in 50 years
2019:Still trying to figure out Jupiter's moon

[Akashic]

0:30
Seeker: This will be the first time we will send a spacecraft to a moon other than ours.
Titan: Do I look like a joke to you?

[eliteflexxtmcurtis]

There is life on every planet. Each planet has its own type of conditions. Just like Earth, they create their own life that is able to withstand the conditions of that planet. So its very obvious that there is life their and everywhere else in the solar system. On every planet. There may not be intelligent life in the solar system but their is certainly life besides earth in the solar system. By the way im 14 years old.

[Sam-uxgh]

0.33 thats frankly bullshit, we sent a spacecraft too titan, which also classifies as another moon then our own

[deisisase]

Europa Clipper is NASA's most ambitious plan? I think Apollo was harder, it involved humans and coming back to Earth.

[valentine]

0:37 “This is the first time we’re sending a spacecraft to a moon other than our own”

I guess Titan isn’t a moon, huh

[smvdk]

Seeker was right after all. After a quick browse:
Cassini was a spacecraft sent to orbit and study Saturn.
Huygens was a probe (not a spacecraft) dropped into the moon Titan.

[shorelord]

Europa isn’t the first moon we will visit besides our own. The Huygens probe landed on Titan in 2004.