New NASA mission a 'promising' search for alien life

A new NASA mission to get underway shortly with the goal of finding signs of alien life in our own solar system.

The Europa Clipper is headed to Jupiter's moon Europa to probe beneath its icy surface.

"Europa Clipper's main science goal is to determine whether there are places below the surface of Jupiter's icy moon, Europa, that could support life," NASA said in its online rundown.

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Scientists will also hope to learn about the ocean beneath Europa's ice, and about the moon's composition and geology.

"The mission's detailed exploration of Europa will help scientists better understand the astrobiological potential for habitable worlds beyond our planet," NASA said.

The mission's launch period is set to open on October 10, but it is likely to be delayed as Hurricane Milton approaches the Florida coast.

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And whenever it launches, it's not expected to enter Jupiter's orbit until 2030.

The spacecraft, the first designed to study a non-Earth ocean, will perform "dozens of close flybys" of the moon when in orbit.

This will include nearly 50 flybys as low as 25km above the surface.

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NASA aims to scan nearly the entire moon.

"Europa shows strong evidence for an ocean of liquid water beneath its icy crust," the agency said.

"Beyond Earth, Europa is considered one of the most promising places where we might find currently habitable environments in our solar system."

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