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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Jupiter in space agencies' sights | Jupiter in space agencies' sights |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Nasa and the European Space Agency have decided to forge ahead with an ambitious plan to send a probe to the Jupiter system and its icy moon Europa. | Nasa and the European Space Agency have decided to forge ahead with an ambitious plan to send a probe to the Jupiter system and its icy moon Europa. |
| The proposal could be the agencies' next "flagship" endeavour, to follow on from the successful Cassini-Huygens mission to the Saturn system. | The proposal could be the agencies' next "flagship" endeavour, to follow on from the successful Cassini-Huygens mission to the Saturn system. |
| Officials had been considering the Jupiter mission along with a venture to Saturn's moons Titan and Enceladus. | |
| They are targeting an earlier flight opportunity for the Europa mission. | They are targeting an earlier flight opportunity for the Europa mission. |
| But Nasa and Esa will also plan for the potential mission to Saturn's moons. | But Nasa and Esa will also plan for the potential mission to Saturn's moons. |
| The decision was made last week at a meeting in Washington DC. | The decision was made last week at a meeting in Washington DC. |
| Scientists and engineers from the space agencies carefully studied both potential missions. | Scientists and engineers from the space agencies carefully studied both potential missions. |
| They decided it was most technically feasible to do the Europa Jupiter System Mission (EJSM) first. | |
| But Esa's Solar System Working Group decided that, based on scientific merit, there was little to separate this venture from the Titan Saturn System Mission. | But Esa's Solar System Working Group decided that, based on scientific merit, there was little to separate this venture from the Titan Saturn System Mission. |
| They therefore recommended, with Nasa's agreement, that both missions move forward for further study and implementation. | They therefore recommended, with Nasa's agreement, that both missions move forward for further study and implementation. |
| Ed Weiler, associate administrator for Nasa's science mission directorate in Washington DC, commented: "Although the Jupiter system mission has been chosen to proceed to an earlier flight opportunity, a Saturn system mission clearly remains a high priority for the science community." | Ed Weiler, associate administrator for Nasa's science mission directorate in Washington DC, commented: "Although the Jupiter system mission has been chosen to proceed to an earlier flight opportunity, a Saturn system mission clearly remains a high priority for the science community." |
| The Europa Jupiter System Mission (EJSM) proposes Nasa and Esa combine efforts in the Jovian system. | |
| Major targets here would be the Galilean moons Europa and Ganymede. Scientists have long dreamt of visiting Europa with sophisticated instrumentation. | |
| The icy moon's crack-riven surface is also thought to hide a sub-surface ocean. Researchers would love to get close enough to start assessing the habitability of this strange world. | |
| The EJSM team suggests the US and Europe both send orbiters. Nasa would despatch the Jupiter Europa Orbiter (JEO); Esa would send the Jupiter Ganymede Orbiter (JGO). | |
| The two spacecraft would occasionally conduct joint observations but only Nasa's probe would spend time around Europa - which is known to have a severe radiation environment. The spacecraft will need specialised shielding to protect sensitive electronic systems. | |
| The JEO and JGO would end their missions by crashing into their respective moons. | |
| Paul.Rincon-INTERNET@bbc.co.uk | Paul.Rincon-INTERNET@bbc.co.uk |