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Indefinitey cancel all plans to land any spacecraft on the surface of Europa

Created by R.T. on August 02, 2015

Current technology has not yet developed to guarantee zero-chance of forward contamination or other harm should we engage the Jovian moon of Europa with surface landers. (www.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/europa-mission/). While plans for preventing such contamination exist (www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=9895), the possible consequences of such contamination could be catastrophic. More development and experience is needed before the benefits of a lander mission on Europa should be considered.

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