New Jupiter Mission to Target Alien Oceans
European probe JUICE dedicated to studying large, icy moons.
The space probe will tour three of Jupiter's largest moons: Ganymede, Callisto, and Europa—all were discovered by Galileo Galilei in the early 1600s. (Also see "Two New Moons Found Orbiting Jupiter.")
Previous studies have hinted that the moons could harbor liquid oceans—and maybe life-forms—below their icy surfaces.
(Related: "Could Jupiter Moon Harbor Fish-Size Life?")
JUICE will also make constant observations of Jupiter's atmosphere and magnetic field and will track the planet's interactions with its moons.
"This will be the first time that Europe, by itself, will explore a giant planet," said ESA's science program committee chair Richard Bonneville. "It's exciting for us."
"This will be the first robotic spacecraft dedicated to exploring an ocean on another world," said Hand, who is also
