A NASA robotic mission to investigate whether Jupiter's moon Europa could support life, launched on 14 October 2024 aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket. The spacecraft is using Mars and Earth gravity assists en route to Jupiter, arriving in April 2030 to begin a series of roughly fifty close flybys of Europa investigating its subsurface ocean, ice shell and potential habitability, without entering orbit around the moon itself.
Facts
Mission TypeRobotic Jupiter moon flyby mission 1 OutcomeEn route as of the mid-2020s; completed a Mars gravity assist and is scheduled for an Earth gravity assist in December 2026 ahead of Jupiter arrival in April 2030. 1 Partially Attested
End DatePlanned disposal date if NASA does not approve a mission extension; the mission has not ended. Connections
Operated By
Source Wikipedia (space and spaceflight articles)
Spacecraft Of
The Europa Clipper spacecraft is the vehicle flying NASA's Europa Clipper mission.
Source Wikipedia (space and spaceflight articles)
Sources
1. Wikipedia (space and spaceflight articles)
Wikimedia FoundationWikipedia: Europa Clipper, lead sectionQuote, Wikipedia: Europa Clipper, lead section
The probe is planned to enter Jupiter orbit in April 2030 and conduct a series of flybys of Europa from March 2031.
2. Europa Clipper (Wikipedia)
End of mission planningQuote, End of mission planning
disposal was targeted for September 3, 2034 if NASA did not approve a mission extension
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