Launch of the Europa Clipper: A NASA scientist investigates whether life can exist on Jupiter's moon

Could life exist elsewhere in the universe?

Scientists are one step closer to discovering whether humans are alone in the universe, as NASA's largest and most technologically advanced spacecraft, the Europa Clipper, is scheduled to launch on October 14 to embark on a five-and-a-half-year journey to Europa, a of them The 95+ moons of Jupiter.

NASA planetary geologist Erin Leonard is part of a scientific team that will analyze Europa's ice crust and underlying oceans to determine whether this celestial body offers the conditions for life as we know it here on Earth. In a Monitor question-and-answer session, Dr. Leonard said Europa's salty water and bedrock create a type of chemistry similar to Earth's that will be a good indicator of habitability.

She says one of the most exciting things about the mission for her is thinking about “questions we don't even know to ask yet.”

She adds: “There is also the larger philosophical question of whether we even understand life. Must life have originated the way it did on Earth?”

Could life exist elsewhere in the universe?

Scientists are one step closer to discovering whether humans are alone in the universe. NASA's largest and most technologically advanced spacecraft, the Europa Clipper, is scheduled to launch on October 14. The Clipper will head to Europa, one of Jupiter's 95-plus moons, to find out whether this celestial body offers the conditions for life as we know it here on Earth.

The Clipper takes 10 years to make and will take another 5 ½ years to get to Europe. Over the course of 49 flybys that will last three and a half years, the Clipper will send back data that will allow scientists to study Europa's oceans, rocks and atmosphere. Scientists believe that the oceans in particular will be similar to those of Earth and will be a good indicator of the possibility of life there.

Erin Leonard has been part of the Clipper mission since its inception. The planetary geologist and Clipper Project scientist spoke to the Monitor about the mission's science and goals, and what it all means for humanity.

The discussion has been edited for clarity and length.

What exactly are you looking for? What will indicate living conditions?

The question arises as to whether there is some kind of nutrient cycle on Europa that could sustain life.