THE SEARCH FOR EXTRATERRESTRIAL LIFE

The European Space Agency’s mission to Jupiter and its moons, JUICE, could be our best bet of findKnI alKGn lKHG Kn ouT SolaT SyUVGO

If all goes according to plan, in May 2022 the European Space Agency will launch the first large-class mission of its Cosmic Vision Programme. The JUpiter ICy moons Explorer (or JUICE) will slingshot around Earth, Venus and Mars, picking up the speed it needs to propel it out to Jupiter.

JUICE is expected to arrive at the gas giant in 2029, where it will begin possibly the most detailed study of the planet to date.

“There are two goals,” explains Dr Giuseppe Sarri, the JUICE project manager. “One is to study Jupiter as a system. Jupiter is a gas giant with over 70 moons, and for our understanding of the formation of the Solar System, studying [what amounts to] a mini solar system is scientifically useful. We’ll study the atmosphere, magnetosphere and satellite system. The second goal is to explore the three icy moons, Callisto, Ganymede and Europa. Because on those moons there could be conditions that can sustain life, either in the past, present or maybe in the future.”

It’s important to note that JUICE won’t be searching for signs of life on these moons, just the appropriate conditions to support it. In other words, to confirm the presence of salty, liquid water below the surface ice. “It’s a little bit like below Antarctica. In the water below the ice there are very primitive forms of life so conditions could be similar to what we have below our poles,” says Dr Sarri. “If there’s a chance to have life in our Solar System, Europa and Ganymede are the places. Unfortunately JUICE won’t be able to see the life but it’ll take the first step in looking for it.”

JUICE may also shed light on the mystery of rings. “It looks as if all the giant planets have rings,” Dr Sarri explains. “In the past, astronomers only saw Saturn’s rings but then rings were found at Uranus, Jupiter and Neptune. Understanding the dynamic of rings will help us understand the formation of these planets.”