I'm back from the Europa Focus Group meeting... Options

[Guest_BruceMoomaw_*]

...which I decided to attend literally at the last possible minute, which is why I didn't alert you guys in advance. Very interesting -- both the discussions about the likely design of the mission (and how to retrieve it from cancellation), and many of the actual science presentations (which aren't on the Web yet, although they probably soon will be). I'll give you some more information tomorrow -- although I can't resist telling Alex that Tom Spilker's subgroup took my ideas about a Europa penetrator, and the printed information I gave them on the subject, seriously enough to recommend making further inquiries to NASA HQ on it. (And without my browbeating them, either. Nyaah.) The case for it, however, is still extremely far from certain.

As I say, more tomorrow.

[Phil Stooke]

Bruce, I hadn't known about the inflatable bladder. That's good to know. Thanks.

Phil

[Bob Shaw]

Bruce:

If you get the chance to point us at some pictures it'd be rather good; is there any hint of the volume of this bladder? I think that's a far better word than air-bag, which conjures up the wrong associations these days...

Bob Shaw