A new concept for the exploration of Europa.
The Europa Jupiter System Mission (EJSM) is the major Outer Planet Flagship Mission in preparation by NASA. Although well designed, the current EJSM concept may present problematic issues as a Flagship Mission for a long-term exploration program that will occur over the course of decades. For this reason, the present work reviews the current EJSM concept and presents a new strategy for the exploration of Europa. In this concept, the EJSM is reorganized to comprise three independent missions focused on Europa. The missions are split according to scientific goals, which together will give a complete understanding of the potential habitability of Europa, including in situ life's signal measurements. With this alternative strategy, a complete exploration of Europa would be possible in the next decades, even within a politically and economically constrained environment.
Interdisciplinary Center for Biotechnology Research, Federal University of Pampa, São Gabriel, RS- Brazil. pabulo@lacesm.ufsm.br
Pabulo Henrique
PH
Rampelotto
D018559:Exobiology / Q000379:methods*; D005118:Extraterrestrial Environment; D018538:Jupiter; D013026:Space Flight / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D018531:Spacecraft / Q000295:instrumentation*; D014481:United States; D018557:United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration