WALL – NASA has announced that Elon Musk has chosen SpaceX company for the journey he designed to Europe, the frozen moon of the planet Jupiter.
The Europe Clipper vehicle will be launched with a Falcon Heavy missile from Kennedy Space Center in Florida in 2024. The contract value is $178 million.
The vehicle was previously planned to be launched with the Space Launch System (SLS) missile, but NASA was faced with delays and cost increases in the project.
Since the SLS is not yet operational, Falcon Heavy has been deployed on commercial and public flights since its maiden flight in 2018.
Falcon Heavy provides approximately 2,300 tons of thrust during takeoff. This corresponds to the total thrust of approximately 18 Boeing 747s.
The orbiter will make 40 to 50 flybys around Europe to determine if this icy moon harbors conditions suitable for life.
In particular, the orbiter will be equipped with a camera and a spectrometer to obtain a high-resolution image and map of the satellite’s surface and atmosphere, and radar to determine if there is liquid water under the ice sheet. (AgencyOur)
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