How big does a satelite we send have to be to be able to chrush through the ice layer and dive into the ocean on Europa? If a mission should head there, is this a better way of examining the ocean than landing on the surface and drilling through?
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2This question appears to be off-topic because it is about space exploration and as such it should be asked in space.stackexchange.com – Eduardo Serra Feb 03 '14 at 18:57
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Eduardo is correct that this is off-topic here, but on-topic on Space Exploration. However, it would be closed as a duplicate of either What are the constraints for a successful robotic mission to Europa? or How to explore subsurface oceans (cheaply)?. – called2voyage Feb 03 '14 at 21:01
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This question appears to be off-topic because it is about Space Exploration, which is covered on the Space Exploration Stack Exchange site (where answers to this question already exist). – called2voyage Feb 03 '14 at 21:03
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There is no feasible way for a human-made probe to crush through Europa's ice layer.
"It is predicted that the outer crust of solid ice is approximately 10–30 km (6–19 mi) thick." (Wikipedia)
It's not even known, whether there is a liqud ocean at all under Europa's ice layer.
Instead of drilling one could try to slowly melt trough the ice.
Gerald
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1Several tons in an opposing solar orbit would make a pretty impressive bang and vaporize a whole lot of ice which might be sampled by a following probe. But miles of ice would be another thing entirely. Not an ethical way to search for life either.
I like the melt idea better. That would require nuclear power of some kind.
– Marc Feb 06 '14 at 03:06