globalnational
New Measurements Detail the Ice Sheet Cover of Jupiter's Moon Europa
Just the facts
The newly published data indicates that the solid ice barrier covering Europa's subsurface ocean is approximately 29 kilometers thick. This massive ice shell encapsulates a saltwater ocean estimated to hold more than twice the volume of all water on Earth combined. The findings present a significant technological challenge for future space exploration missions seeking to drill into the ocean to search for biosignatures. Europa remains one of the primary targets for planetary science and astrobiology research within the solar system.
Why this is news
Astronomers and researchers have released new physical measurements of the ice sheet covering the liquid ocean on Jupiter's moon Europa.
Sources
This summary is compiled strictly from the original reporting below.