Europa Clipper Mission

Recently, NASA has announced the launch of 'Europa Clipper' mission in October to explore Jupiter's moon Europa.

About Europa Clipper Mission

• Objective: The main objective of this mission is to find out the possibilities of life under the icy surface of Europa. Also, it will try to study the ice layer and the sea beneath it in depth.
  • Its second objective is also to study the geology and structure of this icy satellite.
• Launch Vehicle: SpaceX Falcon Heavy Rocket
• Cost: $5 billion
• Features: Europa Clipper is the largest spacecraft ever developed by NASA for a planetary mission. It will take six years to reach Jupiter.
  • It will orbit the planet every three weeks and fly close to Europa, coming as close as 16 miles (25 km) from its surface.
  • The spacecraft will need the use of gravitational pull from both Mars and Earth to reach Jupiter.
  • The mission will map nearly the entire satellite using advanced instruments such as ice-penetrating radar.
  • Europa Clipper will be equipped with very large solar arrays to power its journey to Jupiter's moon Europa using energy harvested from sunlight.
• Significance: Previous probes to Europa have found significant evidence of the existence of an ocean of liquid water beneath the icy crust.
  • According to scientists, Europa is one of the most promising places in the solar system that could support a habitable environment.
  • According to NASA, the detailed exploration of Europa by this mission will help scientists better understand the astrobiological potential of habitable worlds beyond our planet.