What is the purpose of the Europa Clipper mission?
The mission will place a spacecraft in orbit around Jupiter in order to perform a detailed investigation of Europa — a world that shows strong evidence for an ocean of liquid water beneath its icy crust and which could host conditions favorable for life.
How many Europa missions are there?
Six robotic spacecraft have explored Europa, but most of what we know comes from three of them: NASA’s Voyager 2 spacecraft, the Galileo orbiter and the Hubble Space Telescope.
Has NASA sent anything to Europa?
Planned for launch in October 2024, the spacecraft is being developed to study the Galilean moon Europa through a series of flybys while in orbit around Jupiter….Europa Clipper.
| Mission type | Europa reconnaissance |
| Operator | NASA |
| Website | europa.nasa.gov |
| Mission duration | Cruise: 5.5 years Science phase: 4 years |
| Spacecraft properties |
|---|
Will the Europa Clipper discover life?
All that water, heat, and mixing makes Europa one of the most promising places to find alien life in our solar system. The primary goal of Europa Clipper is to find out if the moon is actually habitable. And in just a few short years, around 2023, the spacecraft will be ready for launch.
How long will the Europa Clipper mission last?
The mission is scheduled to launch in October 2024 aboard a Falcon Heavy, during a 21-day launch window….Europa Clipper.
| Mission duration | Cruise: 5.5 years Science phase: 4 years |
| Spacecraft properties | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Jet Propulsion Laboratory |
| Launch mass | 6,065 kg (13,371 lb) |
What makes Europa habitable?
For Europa to be potentially habitable, it would need to have the essential chemical ingredients for the chemistry of life. These include carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus and sulfur, which are common elements, and scientists think it’s likely they were present on Europa as it formed.