Can we drill into Europa?

A future mission seeking signs of life on Jupiter’s moon Europa will likely require drilling into its global subsurface ocean, according to a new study published in the journal Nature Astronomy. That ocean is surrounded by a layer of ice. …

Why would an AUV be needed on Europa?

Below Europa’s ice shield (thickness between 3 and 15 kilometers) an ocean comprised of liquid water is expected. For the exploration of this ocean a fully-autonomous system is necessary due to the long run-time of communication from earth to Europa (33-53 minutes). AUV sinks to ocean floor.

Why do scientists think there might be water on Europa under the ice?

Europa is pushed and pulled by the high gravity of Jupiter as well as by the gravity of Jupiter’s other moons. This makes Europa expand and contract and causes it to heat up and this heat may cause some of Euorpa’s icy crust to melt under the surface. So, there may be lakes and oceans of liquid water on Europa.

Is there ammonia on Europa?

Ammonia is widely thought to exist in many parts of the outer solar system, and it could be present on Europa. H2S reacts with NH3 to form highly soluble (NH4)2S or NH4SH.

Can you walk on Europa?

Europa’s gravity is only about 13 percent of Earth’s, resulting in a virtually nonexistent atmosphere. Because of this, Europa, like Earth’s moon, has no weather, wind or sky colors. And walking on Europa would feel similar to walking on Earth’s moon.

Is there an ocean under Europa?

Like our planet, Europa is thought to have an iron core, a rocky mantle, and an ocean of salty water. Unlike Earth, however, Europa’s ocean lies below a shell of ice probably 10 to 15 miles (15 to 25 kilometers) thick, and has an estimated depth of 40 to 100 miles (60 to 150 kilometers).

How can there be liquid water on Europa?

Prior to this discovery, scientists already had some evidence that Europa has the potential to harbor life. The moon has the smoothest surface of any object in the Solar System, which led scientists to hypothesize that it had liquid water in a subsurface ocean, kept above freezing by tidal flexing from Jupiter.

How thick is Europa’s ice?

around 15 to 25 kilometers
Theory and observation indicate that Europa’s icy shell is around 15 to 25 kilometers (10 to 15 miles) thick, overlying an ocean approximately 60-150 kilometers (40 to 100 miles) deep. Support for this hypothesis comes from observations of pits, domes, and spots on Europa’s surface.

How deep is the ice on Europa?

40 to 100 miles
Scientists think Europa’s ice shell is 10 to 15 miles (15 to 25 kilometers) thick, floating on an ocean 40 to 100 miles (60 to 150 kilometers) deep. So while Europa is only one-fourth the diameter of Earth, its ocean may contain twice as much water as all of Earth’s oceans combined.

Can we build a nuclear reactor in the USA?

Yes we can. It’s called a small modular nuclear reactor (SMR) and NuScale Power is the company that will build the first one in America. Last year, they submitted to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission the first design certification application (DCA) for any SMR in the United States.

Can we build a walk-away-safe nuclear reactor?

Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. This article is more than 3 years old. NRC just approved the idea of walk-away-safe for NuScale’s Small Modular Nuclear Reactor. The small [+] size of its Power Module means it can be factory-built and shipped by truck, deceasing construction costs enormously. Yes we can.

What happens to a nuclear reactor when the power goes out?

If power goes out, the reactor cools over 90\% of the heat in the first day by water convection, then 90\% of the remaining heat by boiling off the water, then it’s cool enough to slowly bleed what little heat is left off to the surroundings for as long as needed.

How is the NuScale reactor made?

The components of the NuScale reactor can all be manufactured in a factory prior to shipping (see figure) and assembly at the site, removing a major cost issue with building new nuclear plants. The reactor vessels and other large components can be manufactured with medium-sized forges, something we actually have here in the United States.