Produced by: Mohsin Shaikh
Europa Clipper launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, and will travel 1.8 billion miles to Jupiter's moon Europa, arriving in 2030. The spacecraft aims to explore this icy moon for signs of alien life.
Europa may harbor a vast ocean beneath its icy surface, potentially containing twice the amount of water on Earth. The spacecraft will investigate whether this hidden ocean holds the ingredients for life.
The moon’s crust is believed to be 25km thick, with the possibility of a saltwater ocean beneath. Europa Clipper will study this ice layer to understand its composition and potential for habitability.
Scientists have observed plumes of water vapor erupting from Europa's surface. The spacecraft will fly through these plumes to collect samples and analyze their composition for signs of life.
Europa Clipper will map nearly the entire surface of the moon, providing detailed insights into its icy crust, subduction zones, and potential locations where future missions could land.
The spacecraft will encounter extreme radiation near Europa, equivalent to one million X-rays during each flyby. Its electronics are heavily shielded to withstand this harsh environment.
Europa Clipper will use gravitational assists from Earth and Mars to slingshot toward Jupiter, a technique that conserves fuel and helps the spacecraft reach its destination faster.
Europa Clipper is racing against the European Space Agency's JUICE mission. Though JUICE launched earlier, Clipper is expected to arrive first, providing critical data about Europa’s surface.
Equipped with cutting-edge instruments, including lasers to see through the ice, the spacecraft will probe the moon's subsurface and identify areas that might harbor life.
This mission aims to push the boundaries of our understanding of life in the universe. Finding even basic life on Europa could imply that life is common throughout the cosmos.