"It's a chance for us to explore not a world that might have been habitable billions of years ago, but a world that might be habitable today - right now," said program scientist Curt Niebur.
"It will take 5 1/2 years to reach Jupiter and will sneak within 16 miles (25 kilometers) of Europa's surface - considerably closer than any other spacecraft."
"The Hubble Space Telescope has spotted what appear to be geysers erupting from the surface. Scientists believe this frozen crust hides an ocean that could be 80 miles (120 kilometers) or more deep."
"Besides water, organic compounds are needed for life as we know it, plus an energy source. In Europa's case that could be thermal vents on the ocean floor."
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