In 1984, we saw the following message for the first time: ALL THESE WORLDS ARE YOURS EXCEPT EUROPA. ATTEMPT NO LANDING THERE. USE THEM TOGETHER. USE THEM IN PEACE. It was the final message that “Dave Bowman” sent via HAL back to Earth in the movie 2010: The Year We Make Contact. This was the sequel to 2001: A Space Odyssey from 1968.
On Monday, NASA and SpaceX launched the Europa Clipper. It is designed to determine whether Jupiter’s fourth-largest moon is habitable.
The spacecraft is equipped with a suite of cameras and scientific instruments to investigate the structure and composition of Europa, including its subsurface ocean where life may exist today.
Apparently, forty years may be the time constraint that scientists and rocket men believe warnings from unknown beings are required and must be obeyed. Then, we can do what we want.
All joking aside, this is expected to be a five-plus year journey, as reported by the Associated Press and other outlets, including Smithsonian Magazine.
“Europa is of such interest because it is this ocean world, and water of course ignites the thought of possible life,” says Tracy Becker, a planetary scientist with the Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio, Texas.
For those of us who saw both movies, it is like Art imitating Life imitating Art imitating Life, again. Where does Fantasy end and Reality begin? In 2030, no doubt.
It WILL BE an exciting adventure, especially when the Europa Clipper finally makes its arrival to the Jovian system. What will we learn, for sure, when it starts to send back useful data?
Will we find out, finally, if we are alone? Or will there actually be Europan sea beings living under the ice?
A fantasy or a reality, maybe; but an Odyssey for sure.
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