Why are scientists sending probes to Jupiter's moon Europa?

Scientists are sending probes to Europa, one of Jupiter’s moons, because they think there might be liquid water under its icy surface, and maybe even life hiding beneath that ice.

Imagine you have a big freezer full of ice cream. If you dig down deep enough, you might find something warm and soft inside, like a chocolate chip cookie waiting to be discovered! Europa is kind of like that frozen freezer, but instead of ice cream, it has layers of ice covering a ocean underneath.

By sending probes there, scientists can take pictures and collect information about the surface and maybe even taste the water if they can get through the ice. It’s like giving Europa a little “taste test” to see what's hidden inside.

• Europa might have an ocean that’s bigger than Earth’s oceans combined, it could be a perfect place for life to live.
• The probe can help scientists understand how water moves and behaves on other worlds, which helps them learn more about our own planet too.

It's like looking for a secret cookie in the freezer, except this one might hold the key to discovering life beyond Earth!