/sci/ - Science & Math

Everyone looking for life in space says the same thing; go where the water is. For the bulk of our planet's history the only life was in water. Odds are to find the first extraterrestrial life, we will need an unmanned submersible.

Alien oceans are our great destination. Space travel is just how we get the sub from here to there.

When it finally arrives and penetrates the icy crust, this is the first thing it sees.

What ramifications does this have? Does it change NASA's funding and directives? How does the media react? And don't say anything about the church, they already have an excuse prepared: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/11/11/world/main5613197.shtml

Basically, how do the various facets of society react to the unambiguous discovery of living organisms within the ocean of Europa and how does it affect what happens from that point onward?