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American astronomer advised NASA to look for extraterrestrial life not on Mars, but on Jupiter’s satellite Europe, since there may be ocean.
“Europe has the most chance of finding extraterrestrial life. We must study, now we have a mission concept that we consider feasible, “- said on the sidelines of the American Conference Association for the Advancement of Science NASA’s Jet Propulsion Robert Pappalardo.
Assigned by NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Laboratory Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Developed Project flight to Europe worth $ 2 billion, the astronomer said. By the plan of scientists, to Jupiter should be sent automatic Clipper station, which will enter the orbit of the gas giant and will make several flights past his companion. “Thus, we we can get a global map of Europe, “he said.
If approved, Clipper may be launched in 2021. Flight to Jupiter will take three to six years. So far, according to Pappalardo, lack of funds is hindering the implementation of the project – NASA previously said that money for a project to study Europe is not provided.
But the American Space Agency planned to launch Mars in 2020, a new robot – an analogue now working on The red planet of the rover Curiosity, recalled Pappalardo. Similar the strategy, according to the astronomer, is erroneous. If on Mars and life existed, then it disappeared several billion years ago, but in Europe it can still be, the scientist emphasized.
Europe is the sixth satellite of Jupiter. Its surface consists of ice, whose noticeable youth gave rise to the hypothesis of the presence of Europe of the ocean and possibly life. Moreover, the satellite has extremely rarefied atmosphere, consisting mainly of oxygen. Europe has been examined several times by automatic probes: in 1979 Voyager flew past her, and in 1989 – Galileo.
Victor POSPELOV
Life Mars NASA Jupiter
