It is reasonable to expect to find liquid water at depth in the regolith. Our planned studies of thermal and mineral limits of life on Earth will guide us in our search for extraterrestrial life. Our planned studies of temperature, salinity and mineral limits of life on Earth with guide us in our search for life on other planets. Europa Europa is covered with water ice, and for astrobiology it is the most important solar body. Europa may have a deep ocean of liquid water below a thin ice surface, due to tidal heating.
Images also show crustal blocks which strongly resemble icebergs and seem to move about.
These images do not prove that liquid water exists on Europa, but strongly support the idea. Therefore it is unlikely that Europa has photosynthesis at present. That activity might also support communities like Earth's vent communities. The astrobiology courses address some of the above issues. They especially prepare astrobiology students to critically evaluate methods and data related to detection of past and present life in environments on Earth that parallel those on other planetary bodies.