Ahead of NASA's mission, James Webb telescope finds cues of a liquid water ocean under Europa's surface
Now, new observations from the James Webb Telescope (JWST) are revealing that Europa, which was often pictured as a still, silent shell actually has an active surface. In a series of experiments conducted by Southwest Research Institute, it was found that Europa's surface ice is crystallising at different rates in different places. This suggests that the planet is currently undergoing geologic activity, with scientists labelling the ongoing cycle between the subsurface and surface as 'chaos terrains'.
The study focused on two regions located in Europa's southern hemisphere – Tar Regio and Powys Regio, with the latter often referred to as one of the most intriguing areas on the moon's surface. In these locations, the James Webb Telescope found crystallised ice both on the surface and below it.
The experiments were crucial for scientists to understand how the ice transforms between different states. The result of these experiments, when combined with the newly received data from the James Webb Telescope, hints that Europa's subsurface may be hiding a huge liquid ocean beneath the surface.
Scientists also found some clues that Europa may have Carbon Dioxide (CO2) and hydrogen peroxide. Upon further evaluation, it was found that CO2 on Europa's surface is unstable due to the moon's radioactive environment, which suggests that these geological processes were recent.
Ujjwal Raut, a program manager at the Southwest Research Institute and the co-author of the study, said that the 'data showed strong indications that what we are seeing must be sourced from the interior, perhaps from a subsurface ocean nearly 20 miles (30 kilometers) beneath Europa's thick icy shell. The evidence for a liquid ocean underneath Europa's icy shell is mounting, which makes this so exciting as we continue to learn more.'
In October last year, NASA launched Europa Clipper, a spacecraft that will explore Europa to determine if its underground ocean is habitable. However, the spacecraft will first head towards Mars and take around five and a half years to reach Jupiter's icy moon.
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Hindustan Times
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This game-changing plan marks the beginning of a new era in space exploration, where America is racing to stay ahead of global rivals like China and Russia. NASA plan for nuclear reactor on the Moon by 2030: In a move that could reshape the future of space exploration, interim NASA Administrator Sean Duffy, who also serves as Transportation Secretary and is a former Fox Business host, is expected to announce a fast-tracked plan to deploy a nuclear reactor on the Moon by the year 2030. This marks his first major agency initiative and signals the Trump administration's growing ambition to win the second space race—this time against China and Russia. NASA's goal is simple yet ambitious: power long-term lunar missions with a 100-kilowatt nuclear fission reactor. The technology will provide reliable, round-the-clock energy for astronauts, research stations, and equipment during the harsh 14-day lunar night, when solar power becomes unreliable. 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NASA plan for nuclear reactor on the Moon by 2030: In a move that could reshape the future of space exploration, interim NASA Administrator Sean Duffy, who also serves as Transportation Secretary and is a former Fox Business host, is expected to announce a fast-tracked plan to deploy a nuclear reactor on the Moon by the year 2030. This marks his first major agency initiative and signals the Trump administration's growing ambition to win the second space race—this time against China and Russia. Why is NASA planning a nuclear reactor on the Moon? NASA's goal is simple yet ambitious: power long-term lunar missions with a 100-kilowatt nuclear fission reactor . The technology will provide reliable, round-the-clock energy for astronauts, research stations, and equipment during the harsh 14-day lunar night, when solar power becomes unreliable. 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Sean Duffy is taking a more aggressive approach than past NASA leaders. While NASA had already been developing a 40-kilowatt fission surface power (FSP) system, Duffy has directed the agency to scale up to 100 kilowatts and shave years off the timeline—setting a launch target for 2030. He's also ordered: Live Events A 60-day deadline for industry proposals A designated lead coordinator inside NASA A full review of all nuclear power projects tied to lunar missions This push is all part of a broader strategy to outpace China , which is actively working on its own advanced lunar nuclear technology. What makes nuclear power essential for Moon missions? Power is everything in space. And on the Moon, it's even more critical. Lunar nights last 14 Earth days—too long for solar panels to handle alone Nuclear power offers continuous energy, even in dark craters or during extreme cold A 100-kW reactor can power habitats, mining tools, scientific labs, and rovers at the same time Without nuclear, NASA would struggle to maintain permanent human presence on the Moon or build infrastructure needed for future Mars missions. How will this Moon reactor work? Is it safe? The plan builds on NASA's Kilopower project, which successfully tested a small nuclear system back in 2018. The current design will likely: Be compact and lightweight, built to survive space launch Use highly enriched uranium to power a fission system Generate electricity through heat-to-electric converters Safety remains a top priority. All systems must meet strict launch and radiation standards to prevent harm in case of failure. The Department of Energy, FAA, and international agencies are expected to collaborate on safety protocols. What are the challenges NASA could face? Even with political backing, this won't be easy . Key challenges include: Massive payloads : Reactors aren't light—they require heavy-lift launch vehicles Regulatory approval : Launching nuclear material involves layers of red tape Budget uncertainty : NASA faces proposed cuts of 25%, including 50% to science programs Technology risks : Going from prototype to real deployment in 5 years is an engineering stretch Still, Duffy insists that America must lead in space power technology to stay ahead of its rivals. Is China ahead in the space race? China has been vocal about its ambitions. Earlier this year, its state-run space agency claimed it had developed a smaller, more efficient reactor than NASA's planned design—using just 18 kilograms of uranium compared to the 70 kilograms in U.S. prototypes. Beijing has also accelerated its lunar base plans and suggested it could deploy nuclear systems to power its outposts by the early 2030s. The U.S. sees this as a clear challenge, and Duffy's announcement reflects growing pressure to counter China's space push. Why is this announcement such a big deal? This isn't just another space headline. It's a signal that the U.S. is preparing to lead the next era of lunar exploration, with energy independence at its core. By fast-tracking a lunar nuclear reactor, Sean Duffy is putting NASA at the center of a global competition for off-world infrastructure. If successful, this move could lay the groundwork for everything from moon bases to Mars missions—and secure U.S. leadership in space for decades to come. FAQs: Q: Is the U.S. really putting a nuclear reactor on the Moon? Yes, NASA plans to launch a nuclear reactor to power future Moon missions. Q: Who is leading NASA's new lunar nuclear project? Sean Duffy, the interim NASA chief and U.S. Transportation Secretary, is leading the effort.
