Jupiter’s moon Europa could support life: NASA

Team Udayavani, Jun 27, 2020, 5:02 PM IST

A new model from NASA scientists supports the theory that the interior ocean in Jupiter’s moon Europa would be able to sustain life

Europa, with an ocean hidden beneath a thick shell of ice, long has been viewed as a potential habitat for extraterrestrial life in our solar system

Europa is one of Jupiter’s 79 moons and is the sixth-largest moon in the solar system. The origin of the ocean in Europa is unknown.

Researchers used data from the Galileo mission to analyse the composition and physical properties of Europa’s core, silicate layer, and the ocean beneath the surface.

Scientists also discovered that the subsurface ocean could have been acidic, comprising of high concentrations of carbon dioxide, calcium, and sulfate.