SPACE · 3 MIN READ
NASA Confirms Water Oceans on Europa
Direct sampling from the Europa Clipper probe finds liquid water beneath the ice.
By Tara Patel
NASA has confirmed direct evidence of a liquid water ocean beneath Europa's icy crust, following years of sample analysis from the Europa Clipper mission. Instruments detected plumes of water vapor erupting through surface fissures, carrying trace organic compounds that scientists are now studying for signs of biological origin.
The finding significantly raises the odds that Europa harbors the best conditions for extraterrestrial life anywhere in the solar system, and NASA is fast-tracking plans for a dedicated lander mission.