NASA’s Clipper Mission

About Clipper Mission

• Launch: It was launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket on October 12, 2024, from Kennedy Space Center, Florida.
• Travel Distance & Duration: The spacecraft will travel approximately 8 billion miles (2.9 billion kilometres) to reach Jupiter by April 2030. It will use gravity assists from Mars and Earth to reach Jupiter more efficiently.
• Scientific Flybys: After arriving in Jupiter’s orbit, the spacecraft will make 49 close flybys of Europa, getting as close as 16 miles (25 kilometres) from the surface to study its ice shell and subsurface ocean.
• Scientific Instruments: The Europa Clipper is equipped with nine instruments and a gravity experiment, including:
  • Ice-penetrating radar to measure the thickness of Europa’s ice.
  • Cameras and spectrometers to capture images and data on surface composition.
  • Thermal sensors to detect warmer areas that might indicate recent eruptions or water flow.
• Power: The spacecraft carries NASA’s largest solar arrays ever used for an interplanetary mission, spanning 100 feet (30.5 metres) when fully extended. These arrays will power the instruments in the dim sunlight near Jupiter.

Objectives of Clipper Mission

• Assess Habitability: Determine if Europa has the right conditions for life. This includes investigating its subsurface ocean, which lies beneath a thick layer of ice, and assessing whether the environment could support living organisms.
• Understand the Ice Shell and Ocean: Measure the thickness of Europa’s icy shell and how it interacts with the ocean below. This includes studying how the ice moves and whether there are any recent or ongoing activities, such as water plumes erupting through the ice.
• Investigate Surface Composition and Chemistry: Analyse the composition of Europa’s surface and its interactions with the underlying ocean. This will help identify key elements, organic compounds, and energy sources that could be vital for life.
• Characterise the Geology: Examine the geology of Europa, including its surface features and the processes that shape them, such as tectonic activity or impacts. This will provide insights into the moon’s history and its potential to harbor life.

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