Ganymede is the largest moon of Jupiter and the only moon in the solar system known to have a magnetic field. In the aerospace context, Ganymede is of interest to scientists and researchers because of its potential for scientific exploration and study.
Ganymede has been studied by various space missions like the Galileo spacecraft, which flew by the moon several times in the 1990s, and the JUICE (Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer) mission by the European Space Agency (ESA) scheduled to launch in 2022, which will study the geology, geophysics, and potential habitability of Ganymede, Europa and Callisto, three of Jupiter's largest moons.
Ganymede is of particular interest because it is the only moon known to have a magnetic field, which is thought to be generated by a subsurface ocean of liquid saltwater. The study of Ganymede magnetic field could provide insights into the processes that generate planetary magnetic fields and the potential for subsurface oceans to exist on other moons and planets.
Additionally, Ganymede is also of interest to scientists because of its potential to contain water, which is a key resource for future manned missions to the outer solar system. The study of Ganymede could also provide clues about the early history of our solar system and the processes that shaped the Jovian moons.