In a significant development, NASA’s Europa Clipper mission is launched to explore Jupiter’s moon called Europa. The mission was launched on Monday, October 14, 2024, in collaboration with SpaceX. This is the largest mission than any other done by NASA for previous planetary missions.
The spacecraft, worth US$5 billion, was launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 9:36 PM IST. It is anticipated to reach Jupiter by 2030. Initially, the Europa Clipper was intended to launch on Thursday, October 10, 2024. It was delayed following the impacts of Hurricane Milton, a devasting tropical cyclone that affected Florida.
About Europa Clipper Spacecraft and its Objective
The Europa Clipper is the largest spacecraft built by NASA for a mission to travel and explore another planet. Launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket, the spacecraft is set to reach the Jupiter system by 2030. The primary goal behind this move was to investigate whether Europa (C) has a subsurface ocean beneath its icy crush that could support life.
The spacecraft is intended to perform a series of flybys of Europa around Jupiter. This means that the aircraft will approach a planet or a celestial body. This would allow the spacecraft to collect or gather data and images of the planet or celestial body. The spacecraft is expected to begin orbiting in April 2030, and in 2031, it will start making 50 flybys around Jupiter.
Features of Europa Clipper
This spacecraft is equipped with advanced scientific tools to analyze the thickness of Europa’s ice shell, locate subsurface water, and analyze surface materials for potential salts and organic molecules. It will also detect the temperature across Europa’s surface. These tools will serve NASA scientists to gather data about the moon’s habitability.
NASA Expresses Excitement About the Mission
NASA’s Administrator Bill Nelson expressed his excitement over the mission. “Today, we embark on a new journey across the solar system in search of the ingredients for life within Jupiter’s icy moon. Our next chapter in space exploration has begun,” he noted.
Geological Facts about Europa, Jupiter’s Moon
Over the previous years, Europa, the Jupiter’s moon, has kept the scientists captivated due to its unique geological characteristics. Its structure has ridges, cracks, and possible water plumes. As per Galileo spacecraft and Hubble Space Telescope, these water plumes will release water vapor from the moon’s subsurface.
Meanwhile, the NASA scientists are investigating to understand the nature of these plumes found on Europa’s surface and understand the ocean’s chemical makeup.
“Understanding the nature of these plumes could provide direct evidence of the ocean’s chemistry and its potential to support life,” NASA officials added.
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