The Galileo spacecraft, launched in 1989, was designed to study Jupiter and its moons. By the late 1990s, it was becoming clear that Europa, one of Jupiter's largest moons, was a focus of study due to its unique surface and potential for supporting life. Scientists were intrigued by the presence of a smooth ice shell covering Europa and the possibility that beneath it lay a liquid ocean. On March 2, 1998, Galileo transmitted new data that confirmed earlier hypotheses of an ocean hidden beneath the thick layer of ice. This conclusion was primarily drawn from measurements of the moon's magnetic field, indicating that a conductive layer beneath the surface likely consisted of salty water.Further investigations suggested that this liquid ocean could be in contact with Europa's rocky mantle, promoting chemical reactions that may be conducive to life. The findings generated significant excitement in the scientific community and were pivotal in framing Europa as one of the most promising places in the solar system to search for extraterrestrial organisms. The potential for an ocean beneath Europa's ice raised questions about the possibility of life existing beyond Earth, significantly influencing future mission planning and targeting for exploration designed to seek signs of life in our solar neighborhood.