Researchers uncover the rate of oxygen production on Jupiter’s moon Europa, finding it could suffice for one million humans for a day.
In a recent development from NASA’s Juno space probe, scientists working on the mission have recorded the flow of oxygen created on the icy moon of Jupiter, Europa, indicating lower levels compared to prior studies. The discovery was documented in a Nature Astronomy article dated March 4. Measurements were obtained via the Jovian Auroral Distributions Experiment (JADE) onboard Juno, analyzing the hydrogen emanation from Europa.
An estimation of roughly 26 pounds of oxygen produced every second (equivalent to 12 kilograms per second) was made, a sharp difference from prior guesses spanned between a few pounds to more than 2,000 pounds each second (over 1,000 kilograms per second). It is theorized that this fresh oxygen may penetrate Europa’s underwater ocean, proposing a new reservoir of metabolic energy.
Europa, with a diameter of 1,940 miles (around 3,100 kilometers), ranks as the smallest of the four Galilean moons and Jupiter’s fourth largest among its 95 confirmed moons. It is hypothesized that beneath its ice shell, a large, salty ocean might exist. This environment could foster livable conditions under its surface.
Moreover, Europa’s geographical position within Jupiter’s radiation belts enhances its potential for organic life, as charged particles from Jupiter continually bombard Europa’s icy surface. These particles break water molecules apart, leading to the generation of oxygen that could possibly seep into the deep ocean.
“Europa can be likened to an ice sphere eroding gradually by a flowing water stream. Except, the stream comprises ionized particles, coerced by Jupiter’s intense magnetic field,” commented Jamey Szalay, a JADE researcher from Princeton University in New Jersey. “Charged particles strike Europa, splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen. Essentially, the entire icy surface undergoes a steady erosion from these particle waves washing over it.”
During Juno’s proximity to Europa—around 220 miles (354 kilometers)—on the afternoon of Sept. 29, 2022, JADE isolated and quantified the hydrogen and oxygen ions fashioned by the incoming particles and subsequently swept by the magnetic field of Jupiter.
“Legacy missions like NASA’S Galileo have broadened our understanding of how Europa interacts with its surroundings. Juno’s advanced capability to directly measure the composition of charged particles emanating from Europa’s atmosphere was an eagerly awaited prospect. However, we didn’t foresee that Juno’s readings could offer such a precise constraint on Europa’s oxygen output,” mentioned Szalay. “But Juno’s mission isn’t over and has further exciting investigations to conduct,” added Scott Bolton, principal investigator from the Southwest Research Institute.
The spacecraft is equipped with 11 advanced science instruments, including nine for charged-particle and wave studies within Jupiter’s magnetosphere.
Juno’s future undertakings include delving into Europa’s habitability—a subject that will be thoroughly examined by NASA’s upcoming Europa Clipper mission with its nine scientific instruments.
Now, the Juno team is focusing on Jupiter’s volcanic moon Io, approaching about 10,250 miles (16,500 kilometers) from its surface on April 9. This venture, with more close flybys in the future, will complement findings from previous Io missions.
The Juno initiative is managed by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory—part of Caltech in Pasadena, California—under Scott Bolton’s guidance, and belonging to NASA’s New Frontiers Program, overseen by NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. The Italian Space Agency sponsored the Jovian InfraRed Auroral Mapper, while Lockheed Martin Space in Denver manufactured and navigated the spacecraft.
For more information on Juno, please visit:
https://www.nasa.gov/juno
News Media Contacts
DC Agle
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.
818-393-9011
agle@jpl.nasa.gov
Karen Fox / Alana Johnson
NASA Headquarters, Washington
301-286-6284 / 202-358-1501
karen.c.fox@nasa.gov / alana.r.johnson@nasa.gov
Deb Schmid
Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio
210-522-2254
dschmid@swri.org
2024-020
FAQ About Juno’s Discovery on Europa
- How much oxygen does Europa produce?
Europa generates approximately 26 pounds (12 kilograms) of oxygen per second. - Could this oxygen support human life?
The amount of oxygen produced could theoretically support the breathing needs of one million humans for a day. - Why is Europa’s oxygen production important for scientific research?
The presence of oxygen could indicate a source of metabolic energy and contribute to the potential habitability of Europa’s subsurface ocean. - What will the Europa Clipper mission do?
Scheduled to arrive at Jupiter in 2030, the Europa Clipper mission will carry nine scientific instruments designed to investigate if Europa has the right conditions for life.
Conclusion
Europa’s capability to produce oxygen has intrigued scientists due to its implications for astrobiology and the potential for life-sustaining environments beneath its icy shell. Through Juno’s meticulous observations, researchers now have a clearer understanding of Europa’s interaction with its surrounding space environment and the potential influence on its internal ocean. As Juno continues to gather valuable data, the scientific community eagerly anticipates the potential discoveries from Europa Clipper’s sophisticated investigations in the next decade.