“All these worlds are yours, except Europa…”
The Europa Clipper successfully launched in October, its mission: determine the habitability of Jupiter’s ice moon and the potential for drinkable water underneath that ice.
With that comes the almost certainty of some form of life under the icy surface. Will it be tentacled seaweed flower whales or something more…elemental?
It’s the closest we’ve ever come to discovering life elsewhere in the universe, and now the whole world is talking about Europa.
2010 has been at the center of the discussion, from the movie’s probe and the fate of the Chinese mission TSIEN in the book. But everyone can agree on one thing: Attempt no landing there.
Plus: a seaweed cephalopod shvitz, the Martian Pangaea, and an Eli Schwab original!
Blastoff! SpaceX Falcon Heavy launches Europa Clipper to Jupiter's ocean moon
ICYMI: What We Know About NASA's Europa Mission
Europa Clipper: Exploring Jupiter’s Ocean Moon (Mission Overview)
NASA Science Live: Could Jupiter's Moon Europa Support Life?
Exploring Ocean Worlds: Europa Clipper Is One Year From Launch (Live Public Talk)
A.C. Clarke interview in 1984 Merv Griffin Show (re 2010)
Leta Powell Drake Interview with Peter Hyams
Clarke, Arthur C. 2010: Odyssey Two. Ballantine, 1982.