The mission is said to be launched on Monday American time, October 14 2024. To reach Jupiter, the Europa Clipper needs 5 1/2 years, before it can sneak close to Europa which is surrounded by radiation.
NASA researchers believe that there is water beneath Europa’s icy crust that could be used to support life and put humans there.
“The Europa Clipper spacecraft will focus on the materials needed to sustain life, looking for organic matter and other clues while looking under the ice for suitable conditions,” NASA said, as it was published. Associated Press.
SpaceX started the Clipper on its 3 billion kilometer journey, launching the spacecraft on a Falcon Heavy rocket from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. An hour later, the spacecraft separated from the platform, hovered and landed.
“Please say goodbye to the Clipper on its journey to Europa,” NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory flight director Pranay Mishra said from Southern California.
About the size of a basketball court with open solar wings, the Clipper will pass Mars and then Earth on its way to Jupiter for gravity support.
The nearly 5,700 kilogram probe will reach the largest planet in the solar system in 2030.
The Clipper orbits Jupiter every 21 days. One of these days will bring him close to Europe. The spacecraft will carry nine instruments, with their sensitive electronics stored in vaults with tight walls of zinc and aluminum to protect against radiation.
The research will continue until 2034.
“Ocean worlds like Europa are not only unique in that they could be inhabited, but they could be inhabited today,” NASA’s Gina DiBraccio said ahead of the launch. .
The space exploration mission cost 5.2 billion US dollars. But it faces several challenges such as Clipper transistors being more susceptible to radiation fields.
NASA will not see this threat until next spring. The Clipper will undergo the equivalent of several million chest X-rays during each of Europa’s 49 flybys.
The space agency spent months reviewing everything before deciding in September that the mission could go ahead as planned.
2024-10-15 10:53:00
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