At just over 3,100 kilometres in diameter, Europa is slightly smaller than Earth's Moon
and is the sixth-largest moon in the Solar System. (Credit: Galileo Project, JPL, NASA)
Europa is primarily made of silicate rock and likely has an iron core. It has a tenuous atmosphere composed primarily of oxygen. Its surface is composed of ice and is one of the smoothest in the Solar System. This water ice, liquid water, and organic compounds that might be useful for sustaining human life. The young surface is striated by cracks and streaks, while craters are relatively infrequent. The apparent youth and smoothness of the surface have led to the hypothesis that a water ocean exists beneath it. Heat energy from tidal flexing ensures that the ocean remains liquid and drives geological activity.
Model of Europa's subsurface structure. (Credit: NASA)
Colonies in the outer solar system could serve as centers for long term investigation of the planet and the other moons. In particular, robotic devices could be controlled by humans without the very long time delays needed to communicate with Earth. The colonization of Europa presents numerous difficulties; one is the high level of radiation from Jupiter's radiation belt, which is about 10 times as strong as Earth's Van Allen radiation belts. As Europa receives 540 rem of radiation per day, a human would not survive at or near the surface of Europa for long without significant radiation shielding. Colonists on Europa would have to descend beneath the surface, and stay in buried habitats. Another problem is that the surface temperature of Europa normally rests at −170 °C. It is also speculated that alien organisms may exist on Europa, possibly in the water underlying the moon's ice shell. If this is so, human colonists may come into conflict with harmful microbes. Even if life on Europa is found to be benign, human colonization of Europa raises ethical questions of ecocide.
Artist's concept of the cryobot, a large nuclear-powered probe, which
would melt through the ice until it hit the ocean below. (Credit: NASA)
Europa plays a role in the book and film of Arthur C. Clarke's 2010: Odyssey Two (1982) and its sequels. Super-advanced aliens aiding the development of life take an interest in the primitive life forms under Europa's ice and transform Jupiter into a star to kick-start their evolution. The aliens grant humans the other three Galilean moons of Jupiter to settle, but the humans are instructed not to land on Europa in order to allow the local life to develop. In 2061: Odyssey Three (1988), Europa has become a tropical ocean world.
Further reading:
Europa, a Continuing Story of Discovery
Moon Miners' Manifesto: Europa II Workshop Report
Preventing Forward Contamination of Europa
Humans on Europa: A Plan for Colonies on the Icy Moon
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