This article was originally written in
Konkani for ARSO- Konkani Monthly and published in March 2023. Here, I present
an English version of the article for my blog readers. The content remains the
same, but the language has been adapted for English-speaking audiences. I hope
you enjoy reading it!
It is now time to unveil one of the most significant plans
in the history of the European Space Agency (ESA). This marks the first time
that ESA will be launching a spacecraft outside of Mars. Additionally, no other
planetary moon has been installed as a satellite, except for our Moon. However,
ESA is now poised to set an example by launching the Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer
mission, also known as JUICE. The mission's objective is to explore Jupiter and
take a closer look at its icy moons, Ganymede, Europa, and Callisto. These
moons were initially discovered by Galileo using a telescope about four
centuries ago. Scientists hypothesize that there is a significant amount of
liquid water underneath the crust of these three moons, which could potentially
harbor life or things related to living organisms. The JUICE spacecraft has
been designed specifically for this mission and is set to launch this coming
April.
Water is a vital component for life, but its mere presence
does not necessarily mean the existence of life. Other factors such as energy
and stability are also necessary. Interestingly, there are many places in our
solar system that have more water than Earth. For example, Jupiter's moon
Ganymede is 46 percent liquid water, and Europa has 16 percent. To study these
moons, the European Space Agency (ESA) has launched a spacecraft called JUICE,
which is set to arrive at Jupiter in July 2031. To reach its destination, JUICE
will have to travel using gravitational force, making flybys of Europa and Callisto
before settling into an orbit around Ganymede in 2034. This will be the first
time a satellite from Earth reaches a moon outside our planet. JUICE will spend
a year studying Ganymede before finally crashing into it in 2035. The mission
aims to gain insight into the moons' geology and search for signs of life, as
scientists believe that there may be liquid water under the icy surfaces of
these moons.
JUICE, the Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer, features large solar
panels that measure 85 square meters. This is the first time in history that
such a large solar panel has been installed on a spacecraft. The reason for
this is that when the spacecraft is traveling near Jupiter's moons, there is
very little heat and sunlight, so it must generate as much electrical power as
possible on the way there. JUICE also features 10 modern equipment, including
infrared, visible, and ultraviolet cameras of various wavelengths, sensors,
spectrometers, and radar equipment, which can detect ice within 10-15
kilometers. The mission's purpose is not to search for life, as that is not
currently feasible, but rather to investigate the potential for habitability
and the presence of vital components that could support life.
Another mission that is being planned to study Jupiter's
moon is the Clipper spacecraft, which is being sent by NASA in 2024. The
powerful Falcon rocket of SpaceX will be used to launch it, and it is expected
to arrive a year before the JUICE spacecraft. The Clipper mission is focused on
studying Europa and is a complementary mission to the JUICE mission. The main
aim of this mission is not to search for life in Europa's seas, but rather to
collect data that can help in future exploration of the moon. There is a
collaborative effort between ESA and NASA, where the data received by JUICE
will inform the Clipper mission. The ultimate goal is to drill down into
Europa's surface to explore the possibility of life, which may take another
20-30 years to accomplish.
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