Date: Wed, 03 Apr 2013 21:59:32 -0400
From: mark <whitroth at 5-cent.us>
To: undisclosed-recipients:;
Subject: [WSFA] NASA Gets $75 Million For Europa Mission
Reply-To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at KeithLynch.net>

Story:
"It may not be a lander or an orbiter, but its something. Europa, one of
Jupiter's largest moons, has been the focus of much scrutiny over its
potential life-bearing qualities. It has an icy crust over a liquid
water ocean and now salts have been detected on its surface, suggesting
a cycling of nutrients from the surface to the interior. This only
amplifies the hypothesis that Europa not only could support basic life,
it could support complex life. But how can we find out? The proposed
Europa Clipper received interest at NASA HQ last year as it would
optimize the science while keeping the mission budget under $2 billion.
It would be a spacecraft that will be in orbit around Jupiter, but make
multiple flybys of Europa to assess the moon for its habitable
qualities. Now, in a bill signed by President Obama and approved by
lawmakers, $75 million has been allocated (for the remainder of this
fiscal year) for a 'Jupiter Europa mission.' Could it represent the seed
money for the Europa Clipper? We'll have to wait and see."
                                    -- 30 --

Story and links at:
<http://science.slashdot.org/story/13/04/02/1822222/nasa-gets-75-million-for-europa-mission>

      mark