Europa’s ice shell secrets unlocked by ground radar study

Jupiter’s moon Europa is considered high-value real estate for astrobiologists due to its massive subsurface ocean of liquid water, which is estimated to contain about twice the amount of water found in all of Earth’s oceans. Scientists are eager to explore Europa further to investigate its potential to harbor life.

Jupiter’s moon Europa has become high-value real estate for astrobiologists and the search for life beyond Earth. This is because the small moon, which is slightly smaller than Earth’s moon, boasts a massive subsurface ocean of liquid water that scientists estimate contains about double the amount of water in all Earth’s oceans combined. As seen on Earth, water equals life, so scientists are eager to continue exploring Europa in any way possible to determine if it could harbor life as we know it, or even as we don’t know it.