Difference between revisions of "Europa"
(Corrections and links) |
|||
Line 14: | Line 14: | ||
==Spacesim Findings== | ==Spacesim Findings== | ||
===Radiation Hazard=== | ===Radiation Hazard=== | ||
− | Due to its location in the centre of a main Jovian [[ | + | Due to its location in the centre of a main Jovian [[Van Allen Belt]], the radiation at the surface of Europa is high. During [[Daedalus 2010]], this caused the [[Hawking III]] to spend only 12 hours at a time on the surface, in order to retain enough fuel to run the [[radiation shields]] at a sufficiently high percentage (near 60% on RAD1). The Habitat was also required to burrow itself into the ice shelf -- that is to say, use its engines to melt a narrow trench, and once sufficiently deep within the trench, use short bursts of [[RCS]] thrusters to cave in a layer of ice above the roof of the Habitat. Despite these efforts, the astronauts suffered significantly more radiation than in most missions. |
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
− | * | + | *[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Europa_(moon)| Europa on Wikipedia.] |
{{Stub}} | {{Stub}} |
Revision as of 21:54, 12 March 2010
[[Image:|300px|Europa]] | |
Europa | |
---|---|
Category | Moon of Jupiter |
Size | Spherical; r = 1569km |
Orbited Body | Unknown |
Periapsis | Not Verified |
Apoapsis | Not Verified |
Time Delay | Not Calculated |
Type of Visit | Main Mission |
Europa is a moon of Jupiter. It is hypothesized that there is liquid water under Europa's surface of water ice, making it a prime candidate for extraterrestrial life.
Spacesim Missions
Spacesim has visited Europa twice as a main mission destination:
Spacesim Findings
Radiation Hazard
Due to its location in the centre of a main Jovian Van Allen Belt, the radiation at the surface of Europa is high. During Daedalus 2010, this caused the Hawking III to spend only 12 hours at a time on the surface, in order to retain enough fuel to run the radiation shields at a sufficiently high percentage (near 60% on RAD1). The Habitat was also required to burrow itself into the ice shelf -- that is to say, use its engines to melt a narrow trench, and once sufficiently deep within the trench, use short bursts of RCS thrusters to cave in a layer of ice above the roof of the Habitat. Despite these efforts, the astronauts suffered significantly more radiation than in most missions.