NASA's Europa Clipper embarks on journey to explore Jupiter's moon Europa
space.com — October 27, 2024, 11:01 AM UTC
NASA's Europa Clipper mission launched on October 14, 2024, to explore Jupiter's moon Europa. Before reaching its destination in April 2030, the spacecraft will make a flyby of Mars on March 1, 2025, and return to Earth for a gravity assist on December 3, 2026. The mission aims to study Europa's ice shell, ocean, and geology to assess its habitability. After arriving at Jupiter, the spacecraft will conduct a flyby of Ganymede before focusing on Europa, with 49 flybys planned from May 2031 to 2034. Europa is considered a prime candidate for life due to its subsurface ocean, essential chemical elements, and potential hydrothermal activity. The mission will conclude in September 2034, when the spacecraft will be deorbited into Ganymede.