The NASA Europa Clipper spacecraft is due to lift off this afternoon, October 14, 2024, at 12:06 PM local time (1706 BST) from Cape Canaveral, Florida, following clearances through delays imposed by Hurricane Milton. The mission, years in the making, will probe Jupiter’s moon, Europa, which scientists believe may have a vast ocean beneath its icy surface—perhaps hospitable to life.
It will take almost six years for the spacecraft to reach its destination; then, it will arrive at Europa in April 2030. Once there, it will have many flybys that will map the icy surface of Europa and collect dust particles using advanced instruments to analyze water plumes detected above the moon. Such investigations might give crucial insights into life possibilities existing within the ocean beneath the ice cover of Europa.
It is a very momentous mission because if there is a discovery of life on Europa, it implies that life can thrive in environments vastly different from Earth, and perhaps, life could be really abundant in the universe. Scientists want to know more about Europa’s water chemistry and how it relates to its ice cover and potential heat sources from inside.
This mission will make gravity assists both at Earth and Mars to begin the approach to Europa and conserve fuel by utilizing the “sling-shot effect.” This spacecraft will actually experience intense radiation as it makes about 50 close flybys of Europa over four years.
