Callisto, Ganymede, and Europa are thought to retain vast reservoirs of liquid water under their icy crusts, and as we know, where there is water, there is very likely life.

Gravitational squeezing the gas giant exerts on its moons means they potentially have the energy and warmth to drive simple ecosystems – much like the ones that exist around volcanic vents on Earth’s ocean floors.

Europa is particularly interesting as scientists believe that it may have a 100km deep ocean underneath its ice crust.

“That depth of ocean is 10 times that of the deepest ocean on Earth, and the ocean is in contact, we think, with a rocky floor. So that provides a scenario where there is mixing and some interesting chemistry.”

Jupiter’s moons are relative in size to Earth’s own satellite, the moon, albeit slightly larger at 4 800km to 5 300km, whereas our own Luna is 3 500km across.

Radar will be used to see into the moons; lidar, a laser measurement device, will be used to create 3D maps of their surfaces; magnetometers will explore their intricate electrical and magnetic environments; and other sensors will collect data on the whirling particles that surround the moons.

The BBC reports that the satellite carrying the JUICE probe will have to rely on its huge solar wings in order to power onboard systems. This is particularly difficult so far away from the sun.

Despite being in direct view of the sun, the distance means that the solar array will only produce about 850 watts – the same amount of energy as your microwave. Even though the mission will probe these icy moons, the actual science will only look at the potential habitability of these worlds so that subsequent missions can address the life question more directly. Check out the impressive launch video below:The 6,6 billion kilometre journey will then come to a head in 2031 when the probe enters orbit around the Jupiter system.

[source:bbc]