Europa is an icy moon of Jupiter and rated "Challenging" in the game. At first glance it seems friendly: the air outside is pure oxygen. At second glance it is freezing cold, and the sun brings hardly any energy. The values come from the planet data sheet.
At a glance
| Value | Europa |
|---|---|
| Gravity | 1.3 m/s² (13.3 % of Earth) |
| Day length | 1,201 s, tidally locked to Jupiter |
| Year | 1,219 solar days |
| Air pressure | 43.8 to 47.1 kPa |
| Air | 100 % oxygen |
| Temperature | 124 to 133 K (−149 to −140 °C) |
| Sun | 46 to 56 W/m², about 53° high at noon at the start location |
| Weather | snow storm |
| Start locations | Icy Basin, Glacial Channel, Balgatan Pass, Frigid Highlands, Tyre Valley |
Pure oxygen – but freezing
According to the data sheet each grid cell of outside air holds 340 mol of oxygen. At 124 to 133 K that gives 43.8 to 47.1 kPa. The oxygen partial pressure is thus far above the 16 kPa your lungs need. The problem is the temperature of about −145 °C.
A worked example shows how useful the outside air is. If you enclose one cell of outside air and warm it to 20 °C (293 K), the pressure rises according to the gas equation:
- p = 340 mol · 8.3144 · 293 ÷ 8,000 L ≈ 104 kPa
So an enclosed, warmed cell of outside air has almost exactly normal pressure – only made of pure oxygen. You draw it in with an Active Vent and mix in nitrogen from nitrice in the room.
Oxygen is an oxidiser. Add a fuel such as methane or hydrogen and an ignition, and it burns. Keep lines carrying outside air strictly separate from anything flammable. More in Atmosphere and pressure.
Pressure and walls
Inside 101 kPa, outside about 44 to 47 kPa: the walls carry only about 57 kPa of difference. The Iron Wall (Type 1) with 200 kPa is comfortably enough.
Cold: the real problem
Water always freezes outside, ice never melts by itself. Every line carrying water or liquid outdoors freezes. Heating is a constant task on Europa: plan one Wall Heater per room and watch the temperature with a Gas Sensor. Every open airlock door lets in air at about −145 °C.
Sun and wind
The sun is very weak: 46 to 56 W/m². According to the data sheet a 2 × 2 panel delivers at most about 220 W. On top of that Jupiter covers the sun for just under 3 minutes every day (calculated).
Wind is better. According to the data sheet an upright wind turbine delivers up to 250 W without a storm, a large one up to 625 W – more than a Solar Panel ever manages here. A Wind Turbine is therefore a serious power source on Europa. The Solar calculator works out the comparison.
Weather: snow storms
Snow storms cool by a further 29 K during the day and 24 K at night, and let only 30 % of the sunlight through. They last 2 to 10 minutes. The first event comes after at least 7 game days, then in pauses of 3 to 11 days. A 2 × 2 m panel only delivers about 60 W in a snow storm, and normal panels take storm damage – 6 % per minute on average, the heavy variants none.
Resources
Europa has the same ore profile as Mars: all metal ores, uranium at depth and all four ice types. So water ice is there – you just have to melt it indoors.
First steps
- An airtight, heated shelter – cold is the main enemy.
- Wind turbines instead of solar panels as the first power source.
- Use the outside air as an oxygen source, mixed with nitrogen.
- Water lines only in heated rooms.
Next steps
- All values: Planet data sheet
- Heating and cooling: Heating and cooling: wall heater, wall cooler, air conditioner, radiators
- Power from wind and generators: Generators compared: solid fuel, gas, Stirling, wind, RTG
- The other worlds: Mars: starting world with thin CO2 air, Mimas: vacuum, low gravity