Outer planets choice is narrowed (BBC) {missions to Titan, Europa, Ganymede?}

[eppur_se_muova]

By Jonathan Amos
Science reporter, BBC News

Ambitious plans to send probes to the outer planets are being considered by US and European space officials.

One proposal envisages sending an orbiter to Saturn which would also drop a lander and a balloon on to the haze-shrouded moon Titan.

The other sees two separate orbiters despatched to investigate Jupiter and its icy moons - Europa and Ganymede.

Space agency officials will meet next week to decide which of the two plans should go forward for further study.

The respective space agencies' two top science executives, Ed Weiler (Nasa) and David Southwood (Esa), are expected to announce a "winner" in February.
***
more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7842254.stm

[phantom power]

1. For a week in Iraq they could fund all three lavishly.

[Phoonzang]

2. I'd like to go under the ice of Europa, but since

it only looks like Europa would get an orbiter, sounds like a Titan lander would be the best.

[Ian David]

3. What we need are semi-permanent orbiters around Saturn and Jupiter. n/t

[Posteritatis]

4. Europaeuropaeuropaeuropa! (nt)

[Orrex]

5. All thes worlds are ours except Europa

Attempt no landing there.

[laconicsax]

6. If it's still a moon orbiting a gas giant, that warning doesn't necessarily apply.

Chances are that there won't be any problem so long as the Chinese don't use it as a fueling station.