NASA to send robotic mission to Europa in search for life

March 05, 2014 04:35 pm | Updated November 17, 2021 02:48 am IST - Washington

Chennai, November 13, 2009 NASA EXPEDITION - JOHNSON SPACE CENTER:-



To explore the Space beyond MARS and to bring in Scientific revolution in young minds, Maharishi Vidya Mandir Sr. Sec. School, Chetpet, Chennai and Maharishi International Residential School, Sriperumpudur, Kanchipuram District kept ;the best foot forward to spearhead the NASA Expedition.  The vision became reality when 36 students along with 2 Teachers set a shining example by proving their mettle in broader perspective of Space Centre Research Practices between 18th October and 29th October, 2009.



A 5-day long programme included Mars Landing Video Presentation, Rover Design & Parts Testing, Rover Construction, Rocket Design, Glider Project, Spectrometer, Mars Lander Design and Competition.  The students were actively involved in the Project Demonstration divided into 5-teams.



A formal event was hosted by the Educational Specialists in the Graduation Ceremony conducted on 23rd October, 2009 and the student delegates received their NASA Certificates of Merit with Gold Medal.  NASA experts declared the school as the `BEST QUESTIONNAIRE OF THE WEEK’.



At Cape Canaveral, Florida students viewed Apollo & Saturn-V Centre, Theatre, Spectrometer, Firing room theatre, Explored collection of Astronaut Artifacts with Armstrong landing on Moon 1969, Space Shuttle – simulation of an actual launch.



At Orlando, Florida, SEA WORLD added fascination to the visiting crew with stunning SHAMU SHOW & WHALE & DOLPHIN THEATER.  MANTA, JOURNEY TO ATLANTIS and KRAKEN remained thrill game rides.



Coming to Universal Studios  Orlando, Florida City Walk with a popular mix of imaginative Music, Comedy and Multi-media theatre provided a new experience of fun & frolic.   A new ray of hope was provided by Hard rock and Islands of adventure.



A raring & bold opportunity indeed to the students and teachers of Maharishi Vidya Mandir Institutions.

Chennai, November 13, 2009 NASA EXPEDITION - JOHNSON SPACE CENTER:- To explore the Space beyond MARS and to bring in Scientific revolution in young minds, Maharishi Vidya Mandir Sr. Sec. School, Chetpet, Chennai and Maharishi International Residential School, Sriperumpudur, Kanchipuram District kept ;the best foot forward to spearhead the NASA Expedition. The vision became reality when 36 students along with 2 Teachers set a shining example by proving their mettle in broader perspective of Space Centre Research Practices between 18th October and 29th October, 2009. A 5-day long programme included Mars Landing Video Presentation, Rover Design & Parts Testing, Rover Construction, Rocket Design, Glider Project, Spectrometer, Mars Lander Design and Competition. The students were actively involved in the Project Demonstration divided into 5-teams. A formal event was hosted by the Educational Specialists in the Graduation Ceremony conducted on 23rd October, 2009 and the student delegates received their NASA Certificates of Merit with Gold Medal. NASA experts declared the school as the `BEST QUESTIONNAIRE OF THE WEEK’. At Cape Canaveral, Florida students viewed Apollo & Saturn-V Centre, Theatre, Spectrometer, Firing room theatre, Explored collection of Astronaut Artifacts with Armstrong landing on Moon 1969, Space Shuttle – simulation of an actual launch. At Orlando, Florida, SEA WORLD added fascination to the visiting crew with stunning SHAMU SHOW & WHALE & DOLPHIN THEATER. MANTA, JOURNEY TO ATLANTIS and KRAKEN remained thrill game rides. Coming to Universal Studios Orlando, Florida City Walk with a popular mix of imaginative Music, Comedy and Multi-media theatre provided a new experience of fun & frolic. A new ray of hope was provided by Hard rock and Islands of adventure. A raring & bold opportunity indeed to the students and teachers of Maharishi Vidya Mandir Institutions.

NASA is planning to send a daring robotic mission by 2025 to Jupiter’s watery moon Europa — one of the best bets for alien life beyond Earth in our solar system.

The American space agency has set aside $15 million in its 2015 budget proposal to start planning a mission to Europa.

NASA’s chief financial officer, Elizabeth Robinson, was quoted by The Times as saying that the Europa mission would be launched in the mid-2020s.

Laurie Leshin, astronomer at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York, said it would be “a daring mission to an extremely compelling object in our solar system.”

It is the first time the White House has mentioned a Europa mission in its budget, according to Wired.com.

“Clearly this is a statement by NASA that they recognise the priority and excitement of Europa exploration,” commented geologist Robert Pappalardo from NASA’s Propulsion Laboratory (JPL).

Europa is one of the solar system’s most mysterious moons. There may be a vast ocean beneath Europa’s icy crust, with more water in it than exists on all of Earth.

A little bit of that water may be erupting from geysers near the Europa’s south pole, sending plumes 200 kilometres into the air, a recent study has found.

Scientists can send a spacecraft flying through these jets in order to sample their composition.

“I would not be overly optimistic until I see the words, ‘We want to go to Europa’,” from the administration, said planetary scientist Alyssa Rhoden of NASA’s Goddard Spaceflight Center.

Robinson said NASA will look at many competing ideas for a Europa mission, so the agency does not yet know how big or how much it will cost.

0 / 0
Sign in to unlock member-only benefits!
  • Access 10 free stories every month
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign-up/manage your newsletter subscriptions with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early access to discounts & offers on our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments.

We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of The Hindu and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.