NASA discovery, speculation inside

[Ninajrr]

Isn't there an assload of radiation coming out of Jupiter?

[AladainAF]

Yeah, but in the case of Europa, the radiation can actually help life form. Evidence is that theres a lake of water underneath the frozen surface. With the tons of radiation coming from Jupiter, it can trigger reactions that make organic molecules to sustain life. Since there isn't any sunlight that is going to penetrate that deep on europa, radiation is really the only chance. Lucky for Europa, its orbit around Jupiter pretty much runs directly in its magnetic field.

[Schatze]

Yeah Europa is interesting as all hell, but I wouldn't expect a mission anytime soon. Simply to drill through the icecaps is something way beyond our capability in regards to space.

Also, another source of energy is probably tidal forces. I'd wager that's more important to possible Europan life than radiation penetrating a kilometers thick ice shield (although extremophiles may be abundant on the surface or near surface).

Ignoring whatever compositional features within Europa may act as another source of energy and therefore life.

[Cybsled]

Gravitational pull creating internal heat on Europa (and thus hot geothermal vents) has always been a popular theory.

There are still alot of questions regarding the thickness of Europa's ice shell, though. Some think it's rather thin (around the order of 1-2km), others think it is 40km+. In either case, some cyro-bot being able to drill/melt through that, THEN withstand the no-doubt huge amount of pressure in the water would be quite an engineering feat. It also more then likely would not be possible without some manner of nuclear power or better.

[Soriak]

Looks like they already have a robot that can do mapping up to 1km below the surface. If it completes some more testing, its successor will be deployed in Antarctica for a final test. Then it may just be off to Europa... would be cool.

Howstuffworks "How DEPTHX Works"

(That's the robot featured in the video above)

[Drajakur]

FOOLISH SUB-BEINGS, NOW YOU WILL LEARN THE TRUE FATE OF TIGOLE + FUROR.

[dak]

It's gonna be a black hole in center of the galaxy.

The delay is to make the distinction that this is in fact a new discovery rather than the 15 years of heavy speculation that would lead most people to say "I thought we already knew that".

As for the high cost of getting fuel into space from Earth being reduced by getting it off moon instead, why don't we use nuclear propulsion? I thought the primary reason we didn't was because of fall-out in case there was a low orbit accident. If I remember right in 2006 Bush lifted the 50+ year restriction on such nuclear systems what's the hold up now? Once you just get a payload of uranium into space why couldn't you just use that in orbit to refuel?

[Zarcath]

I hope it's a new season of ALF.

[Goofy]

either they found XENU or an asteroid is going to crash into india.

[Burf]

Originally Posted by dak

Once you just get a payload of uranium into space why couldn't you just use that in orbit to refuel?

To refuel what? Granted, I'm no physicist or nuclear expert, but what do you want the uranium/nuclear power to do, turn a propeller?

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but you can get energy from the radioactive material to power stuff (like communications, etc), but it doesn't translate well into a propulsion device (in space).

[Jenison]

Originally Posted by Burf

To refuel what? Granted, I'm no physicist or nuclear expert, but what do you want the uranium/nuclear power to do, turn a propeller?

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but you can get energy from the radioactive material to power stuff (like communications, etc), but it doesn't translate well into a propulsion device (in space).

IIRC the ion drive was nuclear powered

[Burf]

Originally Posted by Jenison

IIRC the ion drive was nuclear powered

Yeah, it was, but that was just a sustainment type engine that sllllooooowwwwwlllllyyyyy helped a long distance craft along. You still need a straight up rocket to get out of earth orbit or anything requiring any sort of force.

[dak]

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but you can get energy from the radioactive material to power stuff (like communications, etc), but it doesn't translate well into a propulsion device (in space).

There are several feasible propulsion systems which are powered by fission.

It's not just limited to electrical propulsion systems like ion thrusters either.

Bottom line is all you need is a source to heat the propellant and force it through a nozzle. A traditional rockets thrust isn't from the explosive force of the reaction of the fuel and oxidizer rather the heating of the byproducts of the reaction (which serve as the propellant) and forcing them through a small opening.

[Burf]

Originally Posted by dak

There are several feasible propulsion systems which are powered by fission.

It's not just limited to electrical propulsion systems like ion thrusters either.

Bottom line is all you need is a source to heat the propellant and force it through a nozzle. A traditional rockets thrust isn't from the explosive force of the reaction of the fuel and oxidizer rather the heating of the byproducts of the reaction (which serve as the propellant) and forcing them through a small opening.

Yeah, those were either underwhelming or not feasable right now.

Since you edited, I was referring to the Wikipedia of "Nuclear Propulsion."

[Slide]

Diablo 3