Abstract
Europa is a moon of the planet Jupiter. Slightly smaller than Earth's own moon, it is the smallest of the four Galilean moons of Jupiter but the sixth largest moon in our solar system. Its primary feature is its highly reflective surface; preliminary indications are that it may have a massive ocean underneath its icy crust. In 2013, the Hubble Space Telescope detected indications of water-vapor plumes [1]. Furthermore, Europa's variegated shell may be the result of geological activity, like Earth's plate tectonics. In 2015, NASA reported that sea salt may coat some surface features on Europa [2]. Outside of Earth, Europa is the most promising body in the solar system for supporting life. Europa might support a base for human habitation while performing interplanetary exploration.
Published Version
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