Europa Clipper and the Quest for Life on Jupiter's Moon Europa
Exploring Europa: A New Frontier
NASA's Europa Clipper is poised to embark on a journey of discovery to Europa, a moon of Jupiter that could harbor life. Scheduled for launch by November 6 aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket, this mission is the largest planetary investigation crafted by NASA, set to reveal what's beneath Europa's icy crust.
The Mission's Design
- Cost: $5.2 billion.
- Timeline: 11 years of development.
- Team: Involving over 4,000 contributors from multiple disciplines.
The Clipper will conduct flybys of Europa, analyzing its icy shell and oceanic interactions. With nine scientific instruments, the mission will investigate the moon's composition and geology, all while navigating Jupiter’s formidable radiation environment.
Why Europa?
As a candidate for habitability, Europa holds a subsurface ocean rich with potential. Scientists aim to determine the moon's geological activity, confirming where conditions for life might exist.
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