Mission update
Today the spacecraft is 232,830,740kms from Earth.
Europa Clipper will arrive at Jupiter on April 11th 2030.
The goal of the mission is to determine if Europa, the smallest of Jupiter’s moons possesses conditions suitable for life. In particular, Europa Clipper will: seek definitive evidence of the existence of a vast water ocean beneath Europa’s thick ice crust; analyze the chemical composition of Europa’s surface, atmosphere and potential ocean; perform geologic measurements and find evidence of geothermal activity.
After its arrival, Europa Clipper is planned to complete 75 orbits around Jupiter and perform 49 flybys of Europa.
This orbit plan is designed to avoid orbiting Europa directly and exposing the spacecraft to the intense radiation effects caused by Jupiter’s magnetosphere.
Gravity-assists from Europa, Ganymede and Callisto will be used to target different Europa close approach points on each flyby, the closest of which will be at altitudes of about 25 km.
Bretrick went along for the ride.
NASA’s Europa Clipper Mission: Liftoff!
