Europa space mission

The European Space Agency is looking to send a mission to Jupiter and its moon Europa in 2018.

Currently the mission is called (deep breath) 'The Jovian Minisat Explorer Technology Reference Study'. So... it needs a proper name to take it to the next stage of development.

We asked you if you could think of a good name for the mission.

The competition has now closed. We'll update this page with more news about the mission as time goes on.

About the mission

• The main aim of the mission is to confirm whether Europa has an ocean beneath its icy surface
• If liquid water is there then so too may be alien organisms
• The mission is likely to include two spacecraft – one that orbits Jupiter and one that orbits Europa
• The Europa orbiter may carry a small probe that will land on Europa
• These spacecraft will have to withstand the very high levels of radiation emitted by Jupiter

Further information can be found at Jovian Minisat Explorer study page.