Should we leave them alone? Yesterday a new spacecraft set out to visit one of Jupiter’s moons. Some scientists are hoping that it will find proof of life.
Blast off for alien-hunter spaceship
Should we leave them alone? Yesterday a new spacecraft set out to visit one of Jupiter's moons. Some scientists are hoping that it will find proof of life.
Yesterday, at 5:06pm British Summer Time, the Europa Clipper spacecraft rose into the air. Its journey will take it 390 million miles to Europa, one of JupiterThe largest planet in our solar system. It is a gas giant. 's 95 moons.
Europa is covered in a sheet of ice up to 15km thick. Below that there could be a huge ocean with the basic ingredients of life.
For life to exist you need three things, says scientist Michelle Dougherty. "Liquid water, a heat source and organic material."
The James Webb space telescopeA high resolution space telescope that overtook the capabilities of the Hubble telescope. It was launched in December 2021. has already taken pictures of what looks like water on Europa.
Europa is just one of several projects to look for alien life. A probe called the VenusIn mythology, the Roman goddess of love, beauty, desire and fertility. Venus is also the closest planet to Earth. Life Finder is scheduled to blast off at the end of December, looking for life on Venus.
NasaThe National Aeronautics and Space Administration, responsible for the US space programme. is also working on a huge telescopeA device which makes things look nearer than they are. it hopes can identify 25 planets and moons that could hold life.
Meanwhile, billionaire Elon MuskA South African-born entrepreneur whose companies have included the online payment service PayPal. He now controls Twitter, renamed 'X'.'s company SpaceXFounded in 2002 by South African entrepreneur Elon Musk, SpaceX's mission is to reduce the cost of space transportation to make possible the colonisation of Mars. has just successfully returned part of a rocket to Earth. This means that spacecraft could soon be used over and over again.
But many people worry about whether it is a good idea to search for aliens. Aliens could be much cleverer than we are, with even better technologies. They might not be friendly to us.
Should we leave them alone?
Yes! Looking for them is just too great a risk. They could be a great danger to humanity. Or we could be a great danger to them!
No! They could be very friendly. Perhaps they could help us to solve some of our problems - such as climate changeLong-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. Human action is a major cause of climate change..
Keywords
Jupiter - The largest planet in our solar system. It is a gas giant.
James Webb Space Telescope - A high resolution space telescope that overtook the capabilities of the Hubble telescope. It was launched in December 2021.
Venus - In mythology, the Roman goddess of love, beauty, desire and fertility. Venus is also the closest planet to Earth.
Nasa - The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, responsible for the US space programme.
Telescope - A device which makes things look nearer than they are.
Elon Musk - A South African-born entrepreneur whose companies have included the online payment service PayPal. He now controls Twitter, renamed 'X'.
SpaceX - Founded in 2002 by South African entrepreneur Elon Musk, SpaceX's mission is to reduce the cost of space transportation to make possible the colonisation of Mars.
Climate change - Long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. Human action is a major cause of climate change.
Blast off for alien-hunter spaceship
Glossary
Jupiter - The largest planet in our solar system. It is a gas giant.
James Webb Space Telescope - A high resolution space telescope that overtook the capabilities of the Hubble telescope. It was launched in December 2021.
Venus - In mythology, the Roman goddess of love, beauty, desire and fertility. Venus is also the closest planet to Earth.
Nasa - The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, responsible for the US space programme.
Telescope - A device which makes things look nearer than they are.
Elon Musk - A South African-born entrepreneur whose companies have included the online payment service PayPal. He now controls Twitter, renamed 'X'.
SpaceX - Founded in 2002 by South African entrepreneur Elon Musk, SpaceX's mission is to reduce the cost of space transportation to make possible the colonisation of Mars.
Climate change - Long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. Human action is a major cause of climate change.