Galileo Flew Through A Water Plume From Europa In 1997 (Shh!)

NASA Hosts Live Discussion about Europa Findings, Potential for Life

"NASA will host a Science Chat at 1 p.m. EDT Monday, May 14, to discuss the latest analysis of Jupiter's moon Europa and its status as one of the most promising places in the solar system to search for life. Europa has long been a high priority for exploration because beneath its icy crust lies a salty, liquid water ocean. NASA's Europa Clipper, targeted to launch in 2022, will be equipped with the instruments necessary to determine whether Europa possesses the ingredients necessary to support life as we know it."

House bill keeps Europa Clipper on track despite launch vehicle uncertainties, Space News

"At the May 9 markup, Culberson passed around a scientific paper with involving a new discovery about Europa and the existence of plumes that offer additional proof that the icy moon has a subsurface ocean of liquid water. "It's worth noting that the scientific journal Nature Astronomy just reported that the Galileo mission, back in 1997, flew through a water plume on Europa a thousand kilometers thick. So, the ocean of Europa is venting into outer space," he said. "The science community has wanted to go there for years, Mr. Chairman, and this bill makes that happen." "Just in case I hadn't seen it?" the full committee's chairman, Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-N.J.) asked, looking at the paper. "There it is," Culberson responded. As it turns out, the paper in question had not been published yet, and the journal had embargoed its release until May 14."

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