{"685970":{"#nid":"685970","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Preparing for Europa: Deciphering Plasma Flows and Magnetic Fields Near Jupiter\u2019s Icy Moon","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EIn four years, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)\u2019s\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mission\/europa-clipper\/\u0022\u003EEuropa Clipper mission\u003C\/a\u003E will arrive in Jupiter\u2019s orbit to investigate whether the planet\u2019s icy moon, Europa, could support life. In the interim, researchers like\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/eas.gatech.edu\/people\/simon-sven\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESven Simon\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, a professor in the Schools of\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/eas.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EEarth and Atmospheric Sciences\u003C\/a\u003E and\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/physics.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EPhysics\u003C\/a\u003E, are working to uncover critical information to support the rapid analysis of measurements from the mission.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003ESimon\u2019s research team has been awarded $1.4 million through NASA\u2019s\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/nspires.nasaprs.com\/external\/solicitations\/summary!init.do?solId=%7BCA677753-8D6A-CA7B-6E90-14A8676D8C39%7D\u0026amp;path=open\u0022\u003EPrecursor Science Investigations for Europa\u0026nbsp;(PSI-E)\u0026nbsp;program\u003C\/a\u003E. Their project is one of seven selected to provide essential insights that, according to the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/nspires.nasaprs.com\/external\/viewrepositorydocument\/cmdocumentid=1026643\/solicitationId=%7BCA677753-8D6A-CA7B-6E90-14A8676D8C39%7D\/viewSolicitationDocument=1\/PSIE24%20Abstract.pdf\u0022\u003Eprogram announcement\u003C\/a\u003E, \u201cwill maximize the science return during the radiation-limited lifetime of the Europa Clipper.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003ESimon also serves as the institutional lead co-investigator of a second $1.4 million project, led by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, which seeks to decipher how\u0026nbsp;Europa\u0027s atmosphere and ionosphere contribute to the magnetic field near the moon. This project was selected during the same call for proposals.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cThe research award is a fantastic opportunity to contribute to a mission centered on Europa\u2019s complex plasma and electromagnetic environment,\u201d says Simon, referencing the Georgia-Tech led proposal. \u201cOur project combines foundational plasma physics from our School of Physics and geophysical knowledge from our School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences to understand how the magnetic field near Europa is affected by the plasma populating Jupiter\u2019s environment.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThe research team includes Earth and Atmospheric Sciences Ph.D. students\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/eas.gatech.edu\/people\/tello-fallau-ariel-0\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAriel Tello Fallau\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E and\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/mike-haynes2.github.io\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECharles Michael Haynes\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/physics.gatech.edu\/user\/neil-baker\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENeil Baker\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, a Ph.D. student in the School of Physics, is contributing to the Berkeley-led PSI-E project that also includes Georgia Tech alumnus\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/lukeliuzzo.github.io\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELucas Liuzzo\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E (Ph.D. EAS 2018), now an assistant research scientist at the University of California, Berkeley\u2019s Space Sciences Laboratory.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGroundwork for discovery\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EWith a radius of only 1,560 kilometers, Europa is one of Jupiter\u2019s four largest moons, known as the Galilean moons, discovered by Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei in the 1600s.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EMore than two decades ago, data from NASA\u2019s Galileo mission\u0026nbsp;\u2014\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003Especifically magnetic field measurements collected far above Europa\u2019s surface\u0026nbsp;\u2014\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003Epointed to the existence of a global subsurface ocean. This ocean, which may contain more liquid water than all of the Earth\u2019s oceans combined, has made Europa a prime candidate in the search for life beyond Planet Earth.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cFinding evidence of a saltwater ocean lurking beneath Europa\u2019s surface was a\u0026nbsp;serendipitous discovery during the\u0026nbsp;Galileo mission,\u201d Simon explains. \u201cNASA\u2019s Europa Clipper mission picks up where the Galileo mission left off.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003ELaunched in October 2024, the Europa Clipper space probe is expected to reach Jupiter\u2019s orbit in 2030. That gives Simon and his team only a few years to complete their analysis.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cOur research is doing the preparatory work to determine what and where we can measure further magnetic evidence of the ocean beneath Europa\u2019s surface,\u201d says Simon. \u201cWhen the spacecraft arrives, we will find out whether our predictions are correct.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EUsing advanced computer simulations, the team aims to better understand the magnetic fields near Europa. Part of these fields is generated by electric currents in the moon\u2019s saltwater ocean; the other part is created by fast-moving flows of plasma\u0026nbsp;\u2014 ionized matter that fills much of space\u0026nbsp;\u2014\u0026nbsp;as it interacts with Europa\u2019s atmosphere and surface.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cOur project focuses on how the magnetic fields from plasma flow patterns compete with the magnetic signal from Europa\u2019s ocean,\u201d says Simon. \u201cWe want to determine which part of the magnetic field near Europa originates from the ocean and which part is a disruptive effect from the plasma.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EDeciphering these magnetic signals will provide essential context for interpreting Europa Clipper\u2019s measurements, helping to not only confirm the ocean\u2019s existence but also reveal details about its structure.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EIn four years, NASA\u0027s\u0026nbsp;Europa Clipper mission will arrive in Jupiter\u2019s orbit to investigate whether the planet\u2019s icy moon, Europa, could support life. In the interim, Professor Sven Simon is working to uncover critical information to support the rapid analysis of measurements from the mission.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Professor Sven Simon is working to uncover critical information to support the rapid analysis of measurements from NASA\u0027s\u00a0Europa Clipper mission."}],"uid":"36583","created_gmt":"2025-10-23 19:18:47","changed_gmt":"2025-10-29 19:28:07","author":"lvidal7","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-10-27T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-10-27T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"678441":{"id":"678441","type":"image","title":"Illustration of NASA\u0027s Europa Clipper spacecraft with Jupiter and its icy moon Europa in the background (Credit: NASA\/JPL-Caltech)","body":null,"created":"1761247357","gmt_created":"2025-10-23 19:22:37","changed":"1761247357","gmt_changed":"2025-10-23 19:22:37","alt":"Illustration of NASA\u0027s Europa Clipper spacecraft with Jupiter and its icy moon Europa in the background (Credit: NASA\/JPL-Caltech)","file":{"fid":"262464","name":"PIA24321_-NASA_JPL-Caltech.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/10\/23\/PIA24321_-NASA_JPL-Caltech.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/10\/23\/PIA24321_-NASA_JPL-Caltech.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":581206,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/10\/23\/PIA24321_-NASA_JPL-Caltech.jpg?itok=FflHla0I"}},"678440":{"id":"678440","type":"image","title":"Professor Sven Simon","body":null,"created":"1761247357","gmt_created":"2025-10-23 19:22:37","changed":"1761247357","gmt_changed":"2025-10-23 19:22:37","alt":"Professor Sven Simon","file":{"fid":"262463","name":"bild_sven.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/10\/23\/bild_sven.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/10\/23\/bild_sven.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":28791,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/10\/23\/bild_sven.jpg?itok=Kwj0dgua"}}},"media_ids":["678441","678440"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/svensimon.gatech.edu\/","title":"Sven Simon\u2019s Research Group"}],"groups":[{"id":"1278","name":"College of Sciences"},{"id":"364801","name":"School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences (EAS)"},{"id":"126011","name":"School of Physics"},{"id":"660370","name":"Space"}],"categories":[{"id":"136","name":"Aerospace"},{"id":"150","name":"Physics and Physical Sciences"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"},{"id":"134","name":"Student and Faculty"}],"keywords":[{"id":"4896","name":"College of Sciences"},{"id":"166937","name":"School of Physics"},{"id":"192252","name":"cos-planetary"},{"id":"184419","name":"NASA Europa Clipper"},{"id":"81281","name":"Europa"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193657","name":"Space Research Initiative"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EWriter: Lindsay C. Vidal\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["lvidal7@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}