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If going to Mars leaves you flat (so jaded!), there is always Europa Clipper (https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/europa-clipper/ https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/mission
by mturmon 9y ago
If going to Mars leaves you flat (so jaded!), there is always Europa Clipper (https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/europa-clipper/ https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/europa-clipper/) with current launch expected around 2024 (IIRC). It was only 2 years ago that Juno (https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/juno/main/index.html https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/juno/main/index.html) arrived at Jupiter.
- furgooswft13 9y agoJaded...absolutely. I'm still waiting for my hoverboard. NASA likes to brand a lot of their missions as "looking for evidence or possibility of extraterrestrial life", and I certainly understand that, despite the science being much more grounded and concrete. Still...if there is any hope of finding that in our solar system, Europa, and other moons of Jupiter, have far greater possibilities, relatively, than a well studied barren rock. IMO, leave Mars to Musk and the like and start focusing NASA's resources and extensive science probe/lander experience on more mysterious targets. Or give NASA a lot more money for (not-manned) exploration, and do both. That works too.
- greedo 9y agoThe idea that Mars is "well studied" doesn't bear out, anymore than the Earth is well studied. We've probably explored less than 1% of the surface of Mars.
- mturmon 8y agoIt's hard to say where life (or past life) is most likely to be found, I think. It's only after the most recent rover (Curiosity) arrived at Mars that we discovered clear evidence of long-lived lakes and streams on ancient Mars, and chemical species compatible with life (http://science.sciencemag.org/content/343/6169/1242777.full http://science.sciencemag.org/content/343/6169/1242777.full).