NASA plans for a mission to Europa

[Dexter]

http://news.discovery.com/space/alien-life-exoplanets/nasas-europa-mission-to-hunt-down-lifes-niches-150202.htm

If life exists in our solar system there is a good chance it is on Europa. Scientists plan for a mission in the mid 2020s.

[Relic]

I'm a big supporter of NASA. I think the cost and risk vs. capital reward requires government to shoulder the burden of exploration. The benefit is there, but it's not always fungible.  It will be difficult for NASA to thrive under Democrat oversight with the dictate of proving man's contribution to climate change, and making muslims feel good about themselves.

[Dexter]

I'm a big supporter of NASA. I think the cost and risk vs. capital reward requires government to shoulder the burden of exploration. The benefit is there, but it's not always fungible.  It will be difficult for NASA to thrive under Democrat oversight with the dictate of proving man's contribution to climate change, and making muslims feel good about themselves.

What they want to do here has nothing to do with their opinions about climate change. There is an ocean possibly three times larger than all of Earth's oceans combined underneath the frozen crust of a moon in our own solar system. There is a very real chance that life exists in that ocean and we have the means to go look. I don't understand why cost or funding of these ventures is even part of the conversation considering all of the ridiculous things we waste tax money on.

[Relic]

What they want to do here has nothing to do with their opinions about climate change. There is an ocean possibly three times larger than all of Earth's oceans combined underneath the frozen crust of a moon in our own solar system. There is a very real chance that life exists in that ocean and we have the means to go look. I don't understand why cost or funding of these ventures is even part of the conversation considering all of the ridiculous things we waste tax money on.

Sorry, but it has everything to do with their expenditures on climate change and muslim warm fuzzies.

Opportunity cost. Google it.

[Dexter]

Sorry, but it has everything to do with their expenditures on climate change and muslim warm fuzzies.

Opportunity cost. Google it.

We cannot allow politics to hinder space exploration; it's too important.

[Oceander]

http://news.discovery.com/space/alien-life-exoplanets/nasas-europa-mission-to-hunt-down-lifes-niches-150202.htm

If life exists in our solar system there is a good chance it is on Europa. Scientists plan for a mission in the mid 2020s.

I dunno.  I think we should look at the third rock from the Sun, first.

[240B]

Europa is too far from the sun for sunlight warmth. However, some have postulated that the gravitational pull of the massive planet Jupiter would disrupt the core of Europe enough to generate heat.

Therefore, if you wrap your head around this, we may be looking at a more or less relatively warm ocean, surrounded by a cake of ice. This would happen because the heat is from inside out, instead of outside in. (theoretically)

I don't know. It will be interesting if they get it done. I always wonder about whether or not NASA will wind up introducing some microbe into these galactic destinations. If someone breathed, coughed, or even touched anything that hits that moon, they would introduce DNA and could potentially create, instead of find, a new life form.

[EC]

It would need to be a fairly specific microbe or range of microbes. Viruses would be a non starter - they are too dependent on host cells to be able to reproduce without them. Any microbe that requires food is likewise a non starter, since there be no food up there.
You'd be pretty much confined to the antarctic species or the deep water hydrogen or sulphur eaters - both of which are highly unlikely to be on someone's skin.

[ABX]

I dunno.  I think we should look at the third rock from the Sun, first.

We've already determined there is no intelligent life worth anything there. Just some species called a Honey Boo Boo and another one called a Snooki.

[Dexter]

Europa is too far from the sun for sunlight warmth. However, some have postulated that the gravitational pull of the massive planet Jupiter would disrupt the core of Europe enough to generate heat.

Therefore, if you wrap your head around this, we may be looking at a more or less relatively warm ocean, surrounded by a cake of ice. This would happen because the heat is from inside out, instead of outside in. (theoretically)

I don't know. It will be interesting if they get it done. I always wonder about whether or not NASA will wind up introducing some microbe into these galactic destinations. If someone breathed, coughed, or even touched anything that hits that moon, they would introduce DNA and could potentially create, instead of find, a new life form.

They have observed giant eruptions of water shooting miles into space. That pretty much confirms that it is at least warm enough for liquid water. The outer shell of ice would also shield any potential life from harmful radiation. It is more than possible that life exists on Europa. I know it's wishful thinking, but how utterly incredible would it be if we found a vast ecosystem that has been thriving for billions of years? All of the elements needed to create life are among the most common in the universe. There is no reason to assume that life wouldn't thrive anywhere in the universe that it feasibly could.

[Scottftlc]

Why? Are there Muslim outeach opportunities or clues about man-made global warming there?

[Dexter]

Why? Are there Muslim outeach opportunities or clues about man-made global warming there?

No, just opportunities to unlock the mysteries of the universe.