The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space. Its mission is to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.
Find out more about space activities in our 23 Member States, and understand how ESA works together with their national agencies, institutions and organisations.
Exploring our Solar System and unlocking the secrets of the Universe
Go to topicProtecting life and infrastructure on Earth and in orbit
Go to topicUsing space to benefit citizens and meet future challenges on Earth
Go to topicMaking space accessible and developing the technologies for the future
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A 10 km deep subsurface ocean is thought to exist at the south pole of Enceladus, below a 30–40 km thick ice crust. This artist’s impression shows hydrothermal activity taking place on the floor at the base of Enceladus’s ocean. As hot water travels upward, it comes into contact with cooler water, causing minerals to condense out and form nano-grains of ‘silica’ floating in the water. These are eventually expelled through the vents that connect the ocean to the surface of Enceladus. After being ejected into space via the moon’s geysers, the ice grains erode, liberating the tiny rocky inclusions subsequently detected by Cassini.
Full story: Hot water activity on icy moon’s seafloor