Exploring Europa: The Possibility of Life

What recent discovery has increased the likelihood of a subsurface ocean on Europa?

• The discovery of new moons around Jupiter

• Ultraviolet images showing water plumes

• The presence of methane gas

• The detection of volcanic activity

Why is it important for Europa's ocean to be in contact with its rocky surface?

• It helps in the formation of new moons

• It allows for the formation of ice

• It provides a source of energy for potential life

• It prevents the ocean from freezing

What hypothesis suggests that life on Earth may have originated around hydrothermal vents?

• The Iron-Sulfur World Hypothesis

• The Big Bang Theory

• The Gaia Hypothesis

• The Panspermia Hypothesis

What is a potential habitat for life on Europa, similar to Earth's Antarctic regions?

• The ocean floor

• The atmosphere

• The ocean surface

• The undersurface of the ice

What is the main challenge in exploring Europa's ocean for signs of life?

• The presence of strong magnetic fields

• The high temperatures

• The depth of the ocean

• The lack of sunlight

What is the primary goal of NASA's Europa Clipper mission?

• To study Europa's atmosphere

• To explore Jupiter's other moons

• To survey Europa's surface and interior

• To land a rover on Europa

What unexpected mandate did Congress add to NASA's Europa mission?

• To explore Mars first

• To include a lander

• To study Saturn's rings

• To launch by 2030

What could potentially indicate the presence of life in Europa's ocean?

• The discovery of new moons

• Specific molecules in water plumes

• The presence of volcanic activity

• The presence of methane gas

What is a significant challenge in landing a probe on Europa?

• The high temperatures

• The difficulty in selecting a landing site

• The lack of funding

• The presence of strong winds

What is one method scientists hope to use to detect life on Europa before landing a probe?

• Observing the moon's orbit

• Studying the gravitational pull

• Analyzing the magnetic field

• Using Hubble spectrographs to analyze water plumes