Europa's role in the Jupiter system

该计划的目标是确定从月球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性质，包括从次表层海洋中喷出的H2O的存在。为了实现其目标，该项目将对欧罗巴等离子体片进行建模，以确定等离子体扩散概率、寿命和质量负荷率。这项工作的广泛影响包括对本科生和研究生的培训。这项工作可能会为未来是否有必要向木卫二执行专门的太空任务提供信息。

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.