Europa and Beyond: A Deep Dive into Ocean Worlds in Our Solar System (Live Public Talk)

“Follow the water” has long been the mantra of astrobiologists in search of life in the universe, as H2O remains the fundamental building block of all life as we know it. To truly understand the nature of possible ecosystems outside our planet, we must directly investigate the liquid water that our NASA missions have discovered within moons and planets across our solar system.

From Callisto and Ganymede to Enceladus, what could future exploration of these watery worlds look like?

Join us for a live talk where we’ll discuss the scientific allure of ocean worlds, how we might investigate the surface of these celestial bodies, and learn about robotic technologies being developed at JPL that could someday penetrate a frozen world’s icy shell to explore a vast ocean hidden beneath.

Speakers:
Dr. Cynthia Phillips, planetary geologist and Europa Clipper project staff scientist at NASA JPL
Dr. Benjamin Hockman, robotics technologist at NASA JPL

Host:
Gregory Smith, communications and education directorate at NASA JPL

Co-host:
Laurance Fauconnet, solar system public engagement lead at NASA JPL

(Original Air Date: Sept. 19, 2024)

[paulkartsyart]

song: “ALIEN OCEAN WORLDS”, by Paul Keller. Have a listen if you get a chance. Available on YouTube and all music platforms. Cheers! Paul 🚀

[superman]

This is so cool! We're on the cusp of potentially identifying life beyond our fragile planet! Cudos to the JPL team for pushing forward on this mission and delivering a space-fairing machine that will search for the possibility of life!

[zapfanzapfan]

I want to see that submarine under the ice on Europa before I shuffle off this mortal coil!

[copperNick-North]

It is an impressive video, to watch several times, full of content and good explanations and graphics. Thank you very much.

[raidermaxx]

There are like 7 moons in our solar system that have oceans like Europa, even Titan!

[osmia]

The very idea of an under-surface ocean just tickles my fancy. I can hardly wait until a robot probe gets there and sends us information back

[raidermaxx]

oh my god this is Europa is my favorite topic in the whole world

[Peter-pbjg]

“ALL THESE WORLDS ARE YOURS, EXCEPT EUROPA.
ATTEMPT NO LANDING THERE."

[pedrodelaluna]

Glad someone is doing it I rarely look up at the sky. Unless I hear a plane.

[kalinkaata]

we should really send more than one probe under the ice. it's a very high risk mission, so the only one under ice probe will probably fail before we can get any data. we should really send at least 3 probes. I know it's complicated and takes a huge weight penalty...but still...it would be such a shame if we fail after so much time to even get there.

[fnrd-fo]

what if Europa had huge sea monsters that would make Capt. Nemo squeamish?

[stubborn_otter]

A wok layer. Perfect for that Enceladusian shrimp stir-fry!!
🔥🦐🔥

[copperNick-North]

Regarding the conceptual video of the work of a cryobot, I am struck by its ability to avoid hard materials, its ability to communicate with the relays it leaves behind, and whether its interface change from ice to liquid water would be as radical as shown in the video or something more degraded or blurred, very high currents and other forces to overcome, high point pressures, etc. Quite a challenge! 🤞👍✌👏

[cornfield]

I really miss the auditorium based talks.

[fredkilner]

I remember seeing pictures of Uranus at NASA Ames when I was a senior in high school in a Space and Biology Program and Viking was passing Uranus. I won't tell you what the password to the "SCRATCH" accounts on the VAXes were that I figured out. Looking at the SCRATCH account on a VAX in the N-239 Space and Biology building from the Halley VAX (HAL) in N-245 I saw lots of stuff from some researcher really into Mars. Mc Mac-somebody.

[smorrow]

How does "thermal manouevering" work?

[szslm]

This is a very ambitious project. Has this been tested on Earth?

[RasLion]

Now seeing who's in the clipper team, I understand why it went 100% over budget...

[EBalagot]

Send a submarine probe ocean worlds one day

[JohnDavis-zw]

picture yoself in a oceanic (but bigger) whirlpool. trying to figure fing out. bahahaha.😂