8 Manned Visit.
1 Introduction.
Earth death when the Sun will near the end of its life plays on the minds of humankind. There will come a day when we can no longer inhabit the Earth. That is a very long way off; a very, very long way off, and we have many more important considerations before then, like how to keep the Earth inhabitable! But, what of other possible worlds in our own Solar System? We have always dreamt of setting up manned stations on other planets or moons.
What will happen when we get to that point in time? We can discover much about our Solar System and find out about the Universe beyond.
The Mission.
The mission had been planned for decades. By that time, humans had already visited and established a permanently manned station on Mars and an unmanned station in Mars orbit.
This mission was much further. Jupiter. One of the moons of Jupiter. Europa is an icy moon. High in radiation - particularly on the side turned towards its host planet, Jupiter!
We join the crew of the first manned visit to the moon of another planet, Europa, that might give Man a later base than the Earth, when the Earth is all but swallowed up by the Sun as it expands to become a red giant. Europa will warm up as the Sun expands, and it has lots of water! So, it might be of more use than it looks like just now. But not for a very long time! Life, but not as we know it.
Ever since Europa Clipper in 2024, humankind had their sights on a visit to Europa. Was it habitable? That mission had taken six years to get there. This one would only be marginally less at fifteen months... and a bit. The Europa Clipper mission had made some basic experiments - very simple experiments. This mission had some much more complex experiments to set up and leave running. The results would relay back to Earth gradually. Samples would be collected. A much more detailed visit than before.
Descent from Orbit.
The day has arrived. Today the astronauts are planning their descent from orbit; a first brief manned visit to Europa. The crew of the Lander were already well trained having spent months rehearsing their excursion onto the surface. Placing experiments that would send back report of their progress and taking surface samples. Their best guestimate is that the surface is a cold slush, frozen deeply for most of the time with occasional emergence of muddy salty slush through gravity induced cracks from below the icy surface. Not very habitable! They are only planning to stay for an hour or so; their space suits are well lined against the radiation.
Orbiter commander, Neville Green, gives a brief send-off speech he had been looking forward to giving for months.
Then it is time for the other two crew to enter the Lander module.
Ben Harker and Angel Patel go through the air lock to the Lander module. It was easier on Earth with gravity when they were used to gravity but having spent fifteen months in low gravity (only from the spin of the transit ship), they are now more able to float through and secure the air locks after themselves.
Commander Green sends one of a series of confirmatory progress messages to Earth. It will take sixty minutes to reach Earth from here, and another sixty minutes for the return signal. They are largely on their own here, far from home, lonely. Self-sufficiency can be overrated! Sometimes it feels like it matters.
A quick verification of systems shows that the Lander module is ready. The separation sequence commences. The descent isn't going to have much atmosphere to slow them down. And they have to carry all of the return fuel. After a few minutes the command Orbiter module is distant enough. A brief burn takes them away from the command Orbiter module and out of orbit. Powered descent is only slightly assisted by some fly-by gravitational assistance.
The planned bump on landing was adequately cushioned for the crew lying flat. They can unstrap themselves and sit up now. They look through a window to survey the surface. It is bright, and shiny, like slushy ice in the sun. Ben retrieves a camera for a first few shots, then stows it away. They have a full day's EVA ahead of them. They suit up, reserving their helmets for a few minutes.
External interference.
Angel is looking out of the window. She catches her breath. Another, very different, spaceship crash lands nearby, only two hundred metres away. She feels the Europaquake from its impact. She radios the Orbiter module. Neville doesn't believe her but passes the communication on to Earth; he is obliged to.
The crashed spaceship stands briefly then splits into two vertically. Lots of small metal crabs run out of the crashed spaceship.
Angel looks at Ben. "We could raise the whole module up on the hydraulic legs," Ben suggests.
Angel nods and presses a button. She communicates with the Orbiter. Neville can't believe his ears; he thinks they have oxygen starvation or some other madness.
"We'll get some photos," Ben says as he records the incident briefly.
They have two hours to wait for the signal round-trip to Earth. Angel keeps sending updates. The crabs approach their Lander module but can't climb the hydraulic legs. The legs were supposed to counter rough terrain to keep the Lander module level. The crabs don't back off or go elsewhere. They've found something interesting, and it might be their only way off Europa as their spacecraft becomes increasingly obviously less able to make another journey as it keels over and hits the surface.
The response from Earth is to proceed with the mission. Much has been invested in this mission and a few small crabs aren't going to stop it.
Is it a good idea to carry on? Will the crabs be friendly?