Europe wants to launch a life-hunting mission to Saturn's icy ocean moon Enceladus

image via Space.com

September 27, 2025, 10:00 AM

• •ESA aims to send a spacecraft to Enceladus by 2042 to study its icy moon.
• •The mission involves both an orbiter to sample plume material and a lander.
• •The mission will advance European expertise in key technologies.
• •The goal is to determine if Enceladus can support life.

The European Space Agency (ESA) is planning a mission to Saturn's moon Enceladus, aiming for a 2042 launch and 2053 arrival. This mission, part of the Voyage 2050 plan, will involve both an orbiter and a lander to study the moon's intriguing plumes and potential for life. The mission seeks to advance European expertise in various scientific and technological fields, including in-orbit assembly and extreme environment operations. The Enceladus mission hopes to determine if the moon, which has water, energy, and elements, can support life, though this may take decades.

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