Uploaded September 2024 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

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“Follow the water” has long been the mantra of astrobiologists in search of life in the universe, as H2O remains the fundamental building block of all life as we know it. To truly understand the nature of possible ecosystems outside our planet, we must directly investigate the liquid water that our NASA missions have discovered within moons and planets across our solar system.

From Callisto and Ganymede to Enceladus, what could future exploration of these watery worlds look like?

Join us for a live talk where we’ll discuss the scientific allure of ocean worlds, how we might investigate the surface of these celestial bodies, and learn about robotic technologies being developed at JPL that could someday penetrate a frozen world’s icy shell to explore a vast ocean hidden beneath.

Speakers:
Dr. Cynthia Phillips, planetary geologist and Europa Clipper project staff scientist at NASA JPL
Dr. Benjamin Hockman, robotics technologist at NASA JPL

Host:
Gregory Smith, communications and education directorate at NASA JPL

Co-host:
Laurance Fauconnet, solar system public engagement lead at NASA JPL

(Original Air Date: Sept. 19, 2024)