>Interesting ... I have always thought of the two gas giants as being too
hostile and >dynamic for life to evolve and take root - not to say that it
isn't possible.
See my response to Larry as well.
The upper atmospheres are harsh, bet very predictable. The planets spin so
fast that the coriolis effect rules - Jupiter's "Red Spot" for example is a
storm that's lasted centuries at least - perhaps millions of years.
Under the cloud layer there may be vast liquid water (and other volatiles)
oceans floating on top of molten metal cores. The spin of the planet could
easily set up temperate zones - huge rivers of not-to-cold, not-to-warm
water circulating throughout the planet.
The total volume capable of sustaining (highly specialized) life on Jupiter
could be several hundred times that of Earth.
>Yes - the Eurpoa mission ... very intriguing and exciting prospects for the
search for life >there. That mission is so far down the road - I hope it
actually happens. It even excites >me to think of how life has evolved in
Lake Vostok. Have you heard if the test probe for >this is being built yet
or is it still in the planning stages?
Last I heard still planning - but some very interesting planning!
Most designs I've heard of are still essentially boring torpedoes that would
try to melt or drill their way through the ice while paying out a
communications/power line to the lander/relay station above.
The big concern for both Vostok and Europa is possible contamination from
stowaway bacteria. Nobody wants to crack Vostok until they've sorted that
problem out completely.
>PS: "Sci Am" ? Magazine?
"Scientific American" - great mag, much of it's available online at
www.sciam.com.
Jim Davis
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