Our Place in the Cosmos

  Europa  Every time I see its image, or hear its name, the chill bumps always rise.  2001: A Space Odyssey, set it on a stage, brought it into fame. This Jovian Moon was hosting a Monolith-Messenger , that was seeking new life and knowledge. 2023: A New Odyssey Who knew? The European Space Agency(ESA) and NASA are partnering on a mission to Jupiter and three of its moons:  E uropa; Gamymede; and Callisto  Spacecraft -  "Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer" (JUICE) launched just weeks ago, April 14, 2023 There is strong evidence that  Europa has an ocean below its icy surface which is 10 to 15 miles thick - containing twice as much water than all of Earth's oceans..  As always, where there's water, there may be life. - Gamymede in the foreground It is the most massive natural satellite of Jupiter and the largest moon in the Solar System.  It's even larger than the planet, Mercury. And it probably contains more water than all the water on Earth's surface. It's belie