Europa in History

Voyager images show a bright, sparsely cratered Europan surface crossed by long fractures.

Galileo data strengthens evidence for a subsurface ocean at Europa.

Galileo makes its first targeted close flyby of Europa and images its fractured icy terrain.

Galileo passes within about 586 kilometres of Europa and images additional regions of its fractured icy surface.

Galileo results indicate Europa has a differentiated interior with a metallic core and rocky mantle.

Galileo returns to Europa for another close encounter near the end of the primary mission.

Galileo makes a close Europa flyby as the extended Galileo Europa Mission begins.

Galileo makes another targeted pass of Europa during the extended mission.

Galileo conducts a further Europa encounter to examine the icy surface and surrounding environment.

Galileo returns to Europa during a sequence of repeated extended-mission encounters.

Galileo passes Europa again, continuing the extended survey of its geology and space environment.

Galileo magnetic data support the presence of an electrically conducting layer, consistent with a salty subsurface ocean.

Galileo performs another Europa flyby during the Europa Mission extension.

Magnetic measurements support a salty ocean beneath Europa's ice.

Galileo completes another close pass of Europa before shifting the extended mission toward Callisto and Io encounters.

Galileo begins the Millennium Mission with another close flyby of Europa.

Juno makes a close flyby of Europa.

Juno makes a close flyby of Europa, collecting high-resolution imagery and science data.