A NASA spacecraft has embarked on a groundbreaking mission to investigate Jupiter's moon Europa, with the goal of uncovering whether the hidden ocean beneath its icy surface could harbor life. The Europa Clipper spacecraft is set to journey for 5 1/2 years to reach Jupiter, where it will enter orbit around the gas giant and conduct close flybys of Europa.
Scientists strongly believe that Europa houses a vast global ocean beneath its icy shell, making it a prime candidate in the search for extraterrestrial life. While Europa Clipper is not equipped to detect life directly, it will focus on identifying key ingredients necessary for life, such as organic compounds, as it scans beneath the moon's icy exterior.
