NASA’s Europa Clipper: Mission to Jupiter’s Oceanic World
14 october 2024 в 22:28
Jupiter is millions of miles away from Earth, and the exploration of the gas giant seemed impossible for many years — until NASA’s Galileo spacecraft arrived at the planet in 1995. Now, NASA’s Europa Clipper spacecraft is on a mission to study one of Jupiter’s moons. After launching on Monday, October 14th, astronomers and space enthusiasts are curious about how this mission can prove that the moon is an oceanic — and therefore potentially habitable — world.
The Clipper spacecraft was originally scheduled to launch on October 10th. However, Hurricane Milton delayed the launch for four more days. The mission involves exploring the icy moon Europa and determining if it could be a habitable world. Furthermore, the Clipper mission could help scientists learn more about how life evolved on Earth.
NASA Project Scientist Robert Pappalardo detailed how Clipper will delve deeper than ever before into the history and current world of Europa.
«Instruments are working hand in hand to answer our most pressing questions about Europa», - said Robert Pappalardo in a statement, as reported by CNN. «We will learn what makes Europa tick, from its core and rocky interior to its ocean and icy shell, to its very thin atmosphere and surrounding space environment».
The Europa Clipper spacecraft lifted off at 12:06 Eastern Time on October 14th from Launch Pad 39A on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket.
The mission will help scientists better understand how life evolved on Earth and the potential for finding life beyond our… pic.twitter.com/rzqbmqvyBh
— NASA Kennedy Space Center (@NASAKennedy) October 14, 2024
Robert explained that he hopes Clipper can find «some oasis» on Europa, «where there are signs of liquid water not far below the surface and signs of organics on the surface».
«Maybe it will be warm, maybe it will be a source of eruptions», - he said. «This could be a place where in the future, perhaps NASA could send a lander to dive beneath the surface and literally search for signs of life».
Clipper will travel over a billion miles and is expected to reach Jupiter in 2030. However, the spacecraft will not land on Europa’s surface; it will only fly by to study the moon.
All about NASA’s Europa Clipper mission to explore Jupiter’s fascinating moon Europa: https://t.co/KX1yfEbiNu
The launch is scheduled for Monday, October 14th. Here’s how to watch it: https://t.co/x4XNEuvd7U pic.twitter.com/qkUkVq39pT
— Europa Clipper NASA (@EuropaClipper) October 13, 2024
The Falcon Heavy is a rocket built by SpaceX to send people into space. It was used to launch Europa Clipper from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
The European Space Agency launched the Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) probe in 2023. It is expected to reach the gas giant in 2031.
The China National Space Administration (CNSA) also plans a mission to Jupiter. CNSA plans to launch the Interstellar Express mission in 2024 to study the heliosphere (the outer atmospheric layer of the Sun), and it will fly past Jupiter as part of its mission
The Clipper spacecraft was originally scheduled to launch on October 10th. However, Hurricane Milton delayed the launch for four more days. The mission involves exploring the icy moon Europa and determining if it could be a habitable world. Furthermore, the Clipper mission could help scientists learn more about how life evolved on Earth.
NASA Project Scientist Robert Pappalardo detailed how Clipper will delve deeper than ever before into the history and current world of Europa.
«Instruments are working hand in hand to answer our most pressing questions about Europa», - said Robert Pappalardo in a statement, as reported by CNN. «We will learn what makes Europa tick, from its core and rocky interior to its ocean and icy shell, to its very thin atmosphere and surrounding space environment».
The Europa Clipper spacecraft lifted off at 12:06 Eastern Time on October 14th from Launch Pad 39A on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket.
The mission will help scientists better understand how life evolved on Earth and the potential for finding life beyond our… pic.twitter.com/rzqbmqvyBh
— NASA Kennedy Space Center (@NASAKennedy) October 14, 2024
Robert explained that he hopes Clipper can find «some oasis» on Europa, «where there are signs of liquid water not far below the surface and signs of organics on the surface».
«Maybe it will be warm, maybe it will be a source of eruptions», - he said. «This could be a place where in the future, perhaps NASA could send a lander to dive beneath the surface and literally search for signs of life».
Clipper will travel over a billion miles and is expected to reach Jupiter in 2030. However, the spacecraft will not land on Europa’s surface; it will only fly by to study the moon.
All about NASA’s Europa Clipper mission to explore Jupiter’s fascinating moon Europa: https://t.co/KX1yfEbiNu
The launch is scheduled for Monday, October 14th. Here’s how to watch it: https://t.co/x4XNEuvd7U pic.twitter.com/qkUkVq39pT
— Europa Clipper NASA (@EuropaClipper) October 13, 2024
The Falcon Heavy is a rocket built by SpaceX to send people into space. It was used to launch Europa Clipper from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
The European Space Agency launched the Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) probe in 2023. It is expected to reach the gas giant in 2031.
The China National Space Administration (CNSA) also plans a mission to Jupiter. CNSA plans to launch the Interstellar Express mission in 2024 to study the heliosphere (the outer atmospheric layer of the Sun), and it will fly past Jupiter as part of its mission
© Smirnova Olga
