Jupiter’s icy moon: Europa. Image Credit: NASA

Europa — a moon of Jupiter first discovered by Galileo — never ceases to surprise and amaze astronomers and amateurs alike.

Last December astronomers announced water plumes erupting 100 miles high from the moon’s icy south pole. It was the best evidence yet that Europa, heated internally by the powerful tidal forces generated by Jupiter’s gravity, has a deep subsurface ocean. It caused the search for life in the outer solar system to take quite a turn.

Now, NASA has issued a Request for Information (RFI) to science and engineering communities for ideas for a mission to the enigmatic moon. Any ideas need to address fundamental questions about the subsurface ocean and the search for life beyond Earth.

“This is an opportunity to hear from those creative teams that have ideas on how we can achieve the most science at minimum cost,” said John Grunsfeld, associate administrator for the NASA Science Mission Directorate, in a press release.

via NASA Seeks Ideas for Mission to Europa.

Starting with a 36-hour Hangoutathon on April 26-27, we will spend 36 days working to raise funding for CosmoQuest, a virtual research center designed for the public. Our goal is to provide anyone with an interest in space the opportunity to partner with scientists using NASA data to explore our Solar System. From the Moon to Mercury, you are invited help us do science. In exchange, we will offer you a virtual version of all the opportunities professional researchers have in their research labs. From seminars to star parties, and from planetarium shows to classes, CosmoQuest will help you learn. Recent funding cuts have made it impossible for scientists to explore all the data we have on our own, but with your help, we can explore our Solar System.

Join us for the kickoff event, a 36-Hour live video Hangout chock full of special guests, activities, and science. Join us at http://plus.google.com/events/cmsf0g75jfqlffb4m1rb34if3j0 and donate by clicking HERE