Deep beneath the crust of Jupiter’s frozen moon Europa lies a massive liquid water ocean. Exploring this ocean world with our Europa Clipper spacecraft could provide new clues in our search for life beyond Earth.
Scheduled to launch in October 2024, Europa Clipper’s main science goal is to determine whether there are places below the icy moon’s surface that could be habitable.
When astronauts return to the lunar surface they are probably going to be doing more driving than walking – but to keep billowing moondust at bay they are going to need roads. An ESA project reported in today’s Nature Scientific Reports tested the creation of roadworthy surfaces by melting simulated moondust with a powerful laser.
Want to know more about our solar system but don’t know where to start? We’ve got you covered. Our What You Need to Know series takes you on a tour across the solar system, exploring some of the most intriguing features about our tiny slice of the Milky Way galaxy.
From moons that hide vast liquid oceans to asteroids that hold the secrets of our universe to worlds that could be friendly to life, tune in to find out What You Need to Know.
You’ve heard of asteroids… But have you heard of Trojan asteroids?
Our upcoming Lucy mission will study these time capsules from the birth of our solar system for the first time ever. Find out what you need to know about Trojan Asteroids.
For more information about Lucy, check out this episode of NASA Science Live: Lucy in the Sky with Asteroids: https://youtu.be/180pFU_h5Eg
Earth is not the only place in the solar system with rain, rivers, lakes and seas. Saturn’s moon Titan has them, too — not of water, but of liquid methane and ethane. This Earth-like world even hides an ocean of liquid water deep beneath its surface! Find out what you need to know about Titan.
Here at ESA, the European Space Agency, space is our business. It’s a place we explore, heading outwards while also looking back, to improve life on our own blue planet. Why go out there? Because space is useful and valuable; because it’s the place we all live. That’s why ESA does what we do: because Earth is only the start. Here’s what you need to know about the stuff that surrounds us.
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We are Europe’s gateway to space. Our mission is to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world. Check out http://www.esa.int/ESA to get up to speed on everything space related.
Beneath its icy surface, Saturn’s icy moon Enceladus has many surprises: a reservoir of liquid water, organic chemical compounds, and hydrothermal vents. Find out what you need to know about Enceladus, an ocean world which may have conditions friendly to life.
Our planet is a beautiful water-filled world, teeming with life. But did you know that Earth is not the only world in our solar system with an ocean? Here’s what you need to know about Ocean Worlds.
The search for ancient life. Planetary evolution. Preparing for future human exploration. There are so many reasons to study the Red Planet. If you’re craving more, here’s what you need to know about Mars!
Have burning questions about asteroids? Our experts have answers!
(Spoiler Alert: none of them will hit Earth.)
Our solar system is littered with asteroids and comets and sometimes they get a little close to Earth. When an asteroid or comet looks like it could come near our home planet, we keep close watch to warn of any potential impacts.
The launch of the first Sentinel-1 satellite marks a new paradigm in Earth observation focusing on operational missions to support users for decades to come. This first satellite for Europe’s environmental monitoring Copernicus programme carries an advanced radar to image Earth’s surface no matter what the weather or if it is day or night. Olaf Trieschmann from the European Maritime Safety Agency talks about the need for radar satellites and how data from Sentinel-1 will be used to monitor oil spills and for maritime surveillance. ESA’s Josef Aschbacher talks about how the wide range of services offered through Copernicus will make a step change in the way we manage the environment.
