Europa Mission

In recent years Jupiter’s moon Europa and its thick icy surface has caught the attention of scientists at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). Scientists believe that below the surface there may be water that could possibly harbor simple life forms. JPL is making preparations to send a satellite into orbit around Europa in about three years. But first they must design instruments that can withstand Europa’s 320-degree-below-zero atmosphere and intense radiation. Reporter Cara Santa Maria goes to JPL to see how they are tackling these challenges in preparation for an ambitious mission to Europa.