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Journey to an alien moon, National Geographic

eng

videorecording

Journey to an alien moon

videorecording DVD

National Geographic

50

Explores whether Europa, one of Jupiter's moons, could possibly support extraterrestrial life. Scientists believe that Europa has a liquid ocean beneath its icy crust, protected from the inhospitable surface environment, and heated by hydrothermal vents triggered by tidal heating of the planet. Scientists, adventurers, and engineers are determined to launch a mission to Europa and are designing and testing technology, such as the Endurance robotic vehicle, with the goal of one day reaching Europa with a vehicle capable of exploring the moon and its ocean. But the Earth-Europa distance brings new challenges to the scientists, who must build devices capable of functioning without human controls in unknown environments without damaging the moon and any ecosystem that might exist. Includes some discussion of the Galileo spacecraft, whose mission brought the first images of Europa to scientists

animation and live action