In an ever-expanding universe, our sphere of influence has really only been regulated to Earth. Although humans have graced the moon with our presence, as we eventually may do with other planets and celestial bodies in the solar system, I must ask you, is there truly any point to these endeavors? Would all the work involved in colonizing other worlds not be in vain if, by some measure, we discovered that we are truly alone in the universe?

This is arguably the most depressing possibility of all. Centuries upon centuries of work has brought us to this point, as we inch closer and closer to solving the question that has evaded us for so long: “Are we really alone?” Well, it’s very possible that humanity’s search may come to a satisfying conclusion within our lifetimes.

Last February, a budget proposal was introduced and NASA had gotten the green-light from the White House to proceed with a potential mission to visit the icy moon, Europa, the smallest of Jupiter’s four Galilean satellites. Europa, along with Io, Ganymede, and Callisto, was discovered by the legendary astronomer Galileo Galilei on January 8, 1610. It’s the only other celestial body in the solar system, aside from Earth, with the potential to contain both water and the likelihood to harbor life of some kind.

This moon is rather strange indeed, as many of the traits it exhibits are very Earth-like in nature. NASA has hypothesized that Europa contains water, with oceans twice as large, and 10 times deeper than Earth’s. Europa may also have an active tectonic plate system, similar to Earth’s. This tiny planet is extremely abundant with Earth-like features, including ice, craters, water plumes, and much more, and it all seems to stain the surface. Europa oozes life, yet it’s still so very far away from us. This hypothetical trip to Europa would be made using an orbital spacecraft referred to as the “Europa Clipper," as a proposed mission by NASA. This device would be utilized to make several fly-bys around the tiny moon, collecting data for a final landing in which scientists would drive drones into the icy depths of Europa, in hopes that organic matter and potential life would be discovered. The trip in question will not take fruit until the 2020's.

As obvious of a statement as this is, a mission of this scale is paramount for humanity’s future. Imagine the possibilities such a trip would entail! Our realities are defined by the human condition. Our societies, our day to day lives; humans influence each other constantly, as we continue to play this game called life. We work ourselves up the latter as to facilitate personal gain in the “rat-race" without actually living our lives. We’re so busy, so occupied by our personal, earthly concerns that we forget to enjoy ourselves while we’re alive. Now, what if it were discovered that there are other life forms out there? How would we begin to see ourselves in the grand scheme of things? How would it affect us as a species?

To know that there may potentially be other sentient, living, breathing beings just as we beyond our tiny planet is a mind-boggling sentiment, especially given the scale of it all. To merely look up at the sky and think “are we truly alone?” is a ridiculous notion, albeit subjective. Nevertheless, Europa can potentially be the answer to that final question, as life – microbial, sentient, or otherwise – is just out there waiting to be discovered. This mission makes it all the more important that we can get there and figure it out once and for all.

The possibility that life exists elsewhere in our humble universe is extremely likely. And although we may not find the answers to sate our curiosity for quite a while, we still do have each other; as the love and compassion we exert toward one another could hopefully, someday, be directed toward beings nothing like ourselves.