Produced by: Tarun Mishra
NASA's Europa Clipper spacecraft launched on October 14 and is tasked with investigating the habitability of Europa, one of Jupiter's moons, which is believed to contain essential elements for life beneath its icy surface.
The mission aims to achieve three primary objectives: to analyse the nature of Europa's ice shell and the ocean beneath it, and to assess the moon’s composition and geology. This research will enhance our understanding of potentially habitable worlds in the solar system.
The spacecraft's journey to the Jovian system will be complex, covering at least 1.8 billion miles (2.9 billion kilometres) before reaching Jupiter in April 2030. The gas giant is located approximately 444 million miles (778 million kilometres) from Earth.
To facilitate its journey, the Europa Clipper will perform several gravity-assist manoeuvres. It will fly by Mars on March 1, 2025, getting within 300 to 600 miles (482 to 965 kilometres) of the Martian surface.
After the Mars flyby, the spacecraft will return to Earth, making a close flyby on December 3, 2026, about 2,000 miles (3,200 kilometres) above the planet. This manoeuvre will provide the necessary energy for the spacecraft to continue toward Jupiter.
Upon reaching the Jovian system, the Europa Clipper will slow down its approach to Jupiter using its engines. This braking process will take approximately six hours and will include its first flyby of Ganymede, the largest moon in the solar system.
The spacecraft is expected to commence its scientific operations in May 2031, conducting 49 flybys of Europa over a three-year period. It will utilize nine scientific instruments to collect data on the moon's icy surface and underlying ocean.
The Europa Clipper is projected to operate until September 2034. After its mission concludes, the spacecraft will be deorbited and will impact Ganymede, potentially providing critical data on the existence of life beyond Earth.