NASA New Mission

NASA is very publically planning a mission to Europa in the 2020s, one that will soar over the intriguing moon dozens of times.

Galileo’s flybys of Europa in the late 90’s confirmed a large ocean underneath the moon’s icy shell. A potential landing would include a “clipper” satellite to map Europa and a lander to study the surface. Engineers might also develop more exotic options such as a small robot that detaches from the lander to examine crevasses.

NASA was reluctant about a mission to Europa, but a champion was found in U.S. congressman John Culberson. As a member of the house appropriations committee, he earmarked money specifically for the Europa mission.