NASA is once again making headlines! This time it’s the launch of the Europa Clipper probe, which is headed to Jupiter’s icy moon Europa . Aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket, the mission lifted off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 12:06 p.m. m. EDT Monday, beginning its journey toward a mysterious underground ocean that may harbor life .
This ambitious project is part of NASA ‘s efforts to study ocean worlds beyond Earth. Watch the launch livestream here.
According to NASA, Europa Clipper will answer key questions about Europa’s potential habitability. Source: NASA
Europa Clipper to search for life on Jupiter’s moon
Europa Clipper, equipped with nine sophisticated instruments, will fly 2.9 billion kilometres using gravity assists from Mars and Earth to reach its destination in 2030.
The mission aims to answer one of the most intriguing questions in modern science: Could life exist outside Earth? Europa , with its vast ocean hidden beneath a layer of ice, is one of the leading candidates in the solar system for habitable conditions. Scientists believe that this ocean holds more water than all of Earth’s oceans combined , raising expectations for the discoveries that this mission could offer.
How will Europe be explored?
Once in orbit around Jupiter, the probe will carry out 49 flybys of Europa , reaching altitudes of just 25 kilometres above the satellite’s surface.
During the flybys, Europa Clipper will use a variety of instruments, including ice-penetrating radar, high-resolution cameras and thermal instruments, to examine the moon ‘s composition, geology and thin atmosphere. These tools will yield crucial data on Europa’s structure and potential to support life.
The Europa Clipper mission will expand our understanding of the solar system and also provide valuable information for future interplanetary exploration. According to Nicky Fox, administrator of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, this mission builds on the legacy of previous explorations of Jupiter, such as the Juno and Galileo missions.
Answers in 2030
The launch of Europa Clipper has been made possible by the collective efforts of more than 4,000 people since 2015. Project manager Jordan Evans highlighted the team’s hard work and the impact this mission will have on the future of space science.
With a duration of six years, this mission promises to revolutionize our knowledge about distant worlds and their possible secrets. As the probe progresses on its journey, there will be constant updates on its progress and the exciting discoveries that Europa Clipper may offer on its way to discovering a possible habitable world.
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Source and internal photo: NASA
Main photo: shutterstock