Why do we need to colonize the satellite of Jupiter?

Callisto is the second largest Galilean satelliteJupiter after Ganymede. Due to its rather decent distance from the giant planet, and therefore the reduced lethal level of radiation, it is this moon that is considered the most potential candidate for creating one of the first space bases in the vicinity of Jupiter. What else might be interesting Callisto?

Jupiter's satellite Callisto could be of great scientific interest to future generations of earthlings

Is it possible to build a colony on the satellite of Jupiter?

Until recently, Callisto was considered one ofthe most poorly studied satellites of the Jupiter system: laurels of the very best were distributed between Europe, with its giant icy ocean, Io, famous for its volcanic character and Ganymede, which is known as the largest satellite of our star system. Meanwhile, the high point of Callisto, it seems, is about to come: it is known that because of its decent distance from its master Jupiter, the level of radiation on this moon is 7 times less than the earthly level!

See also: How much water is needed for life elsewhere in the solar system?

Other satellites of the giant planet are such an indicatorcan not boast due to their proximity to Jupiter. Io is considered the most radiation satellite of the planet, where the level of lethal radiation is a thousand times higher than the earth. In second place in terms of radiation is Europe, whose global subglacial ocean may contain hypothetical extreme life, provided that ice can restrain the pressure of radiation. The surface of Ganymede also suffers from a high radiation background, because of which only Callisto is an absolutely safe ice world, completely dotted with craters.

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Jupiter's Galilean satellites: Ganymede, Callisto, Europe and Io

Callisto's diameter is approximately 5000kilometers, which makes it very similar to the size of such a planet as Mercury. In addition, a huge number of ancient craters on the surface of this Jovian satellite indicates the similarity with Mercury. The most outstanding crater of Callisto is the giant Valhalla crater with a diameter of about 530 kilometers, whose neighborhood is surrounded by unusual concentric rings reaching a radius of about 2000 kilometers.

Valhalla Crater on Callisto

Planetologists believe that such an educationcould have occurred as a result of the collision of Jupiter’s satellite with a rather large body, which, crashing into the icy surface of Callisto, provoked something similar to what we see at the moment the stone touches the surface of the water. This statement once again proves that under the surface of Callisto a huge reservoir of liquid water can be hidden.

Flying to Callisto using modern speeds can take about 5 years

Whereas Jupiter is 8 timesfarther from the Earth than the well-known planet Mars, by simple calculations it can be understood that a person must fly for about 5 years to the system of satellites of Jupiter. Such a long period can be offset by the large reserves of Callisto's water resources, which guarantee the possibility of creating a permanent research station, thanks to which it would be possible to begin observation and research of other satellites of the giant planet. So, with the help of certain technologies, researchers could get a unique opportunity to study Jupiter’s more economically advantageous satellites in real time, as well as advance towards the study of other outer planets of the Solar System.