Europa's role in the Jupiter system

该计划的目标是确定从木卫二进入木星等离子体片的大气逃逸速率的极限。这项研究将限制木卫二大气的重要特性，包括从地下海洋排放的H2O的存在。为了实现其目标，该项目将模拟木卫二等离子体片，以确定等离子体扩散概率，寿命和质量加载率。更广泛的影响，工作包括本科生和研究生的培训。这项工作可以为未来决定是否有必要对木卫二进行专门的空间使命提供信息。

The goal of this program is to determine limits for the rate of atmospheric escape from the moon Europa into Jupiter's plasma sheet. The research will constrain important properties of Europa's atmosphere, including the presence of H2O vented from a subsurface ocean. To accomplish its goals, the project will model the Europa plasma sheet to determine plasma diffusion probabilities, lifetimes and mass loading rates.Broader impacts of the work include training of undergraduate and graduate students. The work could inform future decisions on whether a dedicated space mission to Europa is warranted.