NASA Mission to Europa to Search for Extraterrestrial Life

NASA Mission to Europa to Search for Extraterrestrial Life

Feb 4, 2015, 12:02 PM ET

By ALYSSA NEWCOMB

Digital Reporter

Follow @AlyssaNewcomb

 

The moon Europa orbits in front of Jupiter in this color picture taken by NASA's Cassini spacecraft on Dec. 7, 2000. 

 

University of Arizona/JPL/NASA

 

NASA has its sights set on a visit to Jupiter's icy moon Europa, where astrobiologists believe there could be possible extraterrestrial life forms. 

"For the first time in the history of humanity we have the tools and technology and capability to potentially answer this question. And, we know where to go to find it," Kevin Hand, a NASA astrobiologist, said last year. 

Getting a closer look could soon be a reality. The $18.5 billion NASA budget recently proposed by the White House for next year includes money earmarked "for Planetary Science including formulation of a mission to Jupiter’s moon Europa."

Under its icy shell, Europa, one of the many moons orbiting Jupiter, has an interior ocean that could perhaps be ten times deeper than those on Earth, and include two to three times the volume of all liquid water on our planet, according to Hand. 

More Earth Like Planets Discovered - Eight New Goldilocks Planets that May Host Alien Life Found

Eight New Goldilocks Planets that May Host Alien Life Found

February 3, 2015 By Frank Smith

 

Scientists from the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA) recently reported that they identified eight new exoplanets orbiting their host stars in the so-called “Goldilocks” zone. Researchers also said that many of these objects have an increased chance to be Earth-like, rocky planets with a high potential of hosting alien life.

The “Goldilocks zone,” or the habitable zone, is a patch of space around a Sun-like star that allow planets orbiting within it hold liquid water on their surface if they also have the necessary atmospheric pressure for it. Most Goldilocks planets are Earth-sized so scientists hope that one of them may host life, even microbial forms of life.

The new discovery of the exoplanets doubles the number of known planets located in the habitable zone of their host stars. Scientists explain that the habitable zone implies that the planets within it receive as much solar as our planet does. Too much radiation and heat would boil the water on their surface and even blow away their atmosphere. Too little radiation would lead to a small icy world.

MarkZ Update - February 5, 2015

From MarkZ

Working On Checkmate

To say I have been a busy bee would be an enormous understatement. I have been working hard on a history lesson for you all in the near future. Until then let me give you a little update. The powers that be have been rushing about the globe to nearly everywhere shoring up currencies in anticipation of the impending currency changes, even Kenya which is near to my heart got a visit. Meanwhile Iraq, Greece, Russia and China have their players visiting Germany to put another nail in the US energy/petro dollar coffin as we speak. The near European meltdown did cause a hiccup or two but nothing completely unexpected or insurmountable. The Fed/Bush/cabal/evil bankers(or whatever else you would like to insert in here) group has been a regular cornucopia of dirty tricks to hang on to their perverse and often evil world. Fear not though, the final chapter may not be what you expect but it will be a brave new more level playing field. The difference that will make to developing countries and blue collar people around this little blue ball we call earth will be astounding. Now, what does all this rambling of mine mean you ask? It means things are still on track, turn your frowns upside down, stay in the race and be prepared to check your britches if sudden excitement causes control issues.

 http://www.intel4u.com/Forums/index.php?/topic/26270-markz2515/