Nasa plans mission to Jupiter moon Europa to hunt for life

Image source, SPL

Nasa is planning an unmanned mission to a moon orbiting the planet Jupiter.

A robot will travel to the icy surface of Europa, which space experts think could have the right conditions to offer a home to life.

Europa is slightly smaller than the Earth's moon. Its surface is thought to be covered by a huge ocean of water, much of it frozen.

A launch is expected in about 10 years. Nasa has set aside US$15 million (about 拢9 million) to plan the voyage.

Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system and fifth from the Sun.