NASA Probe Hunts for Alien Life

By Josie Hess

Around this time last year, NASA launched Europa Clipper, its first the dedicated mission to Jupiter's moon, Europa.

Europa has a very thin oxygen atmosphere. Beneath its icy surface, Europa has a deep global ocean of liquid water.

Europa Clipper won’t land or drill; it will arrive around April of 2030 to make dozens of close flybys, mapping the ice, measuring the ocean, and hunting for signs of habitability.

As you might be aware, possible evidence of ancient life has been discussed in recent weeks, as it applies to Mars. These include a rock called “Cheyava Falls,” that contain organic compounds typically created through organic processes. That is where an expedition to Europa comes into the equation and why it is so compelling.

With liquid water known to be on Europa, and high likeliness of a liquid core, there is a strong possibility of aliens within our own little solar system.

The life thought to be within Europa’s mysterious depths will most likely not be stereotypical little green men, but microscopic bacteria. This is still astronomical news for the scientific community. It could change the very way the concept of life is approached.

Imagine the possibilities: seeing the microscopic bacteria all life evolved from doing the process over again. Tiny alien cells multiplying within a half-frozen ocean 390.4 million miles away. Slowly evolving, replicating, and adapting just as life on Earth once did. We could be watching the evolution of a whole new world take place before our eyes.

In the future, NASA may send a lander or even an ice-penetrating probe, but for now Europa Clipper will study the moon from flybys. Perhaps then we can all answer the biggest question of our generation: are there aliens?

Europa Clipper is the second interplanetary probe launched by SpaceX. The probe was sent into space aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from Kennedy Space Center.

 Image Credit: NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory