Why ESA's JUICE Mission Can't Orbit Europa and What It Will Explore Instead

Europe's Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) spacecraft will not orbit potentially life-harboring moon Europa due to its harsh radiation environment. JUICE will instead focus on Jupiter's largest moon Ganymede, which is less likely to harbor life than Europa but is still a fascinating target. JUICE's electronics are encased in a lead-lined vault to protect them from radiation, but the solar panels are completely exposed and will eventually degrade, leading to the mission's demise. Engineers are studying the possibility of sending a sterile lander to Europa in the future, but it would require much more protection for the electronics and larger solar arrays.