NASA’s upcoming Europa Clipper mission, set to launch in October 2024, aims to uncover whether Jupiter’s moon, Europa, has the potential to support life. With a budget of $5 billion, the mission will involve sailing past Europa about 50 times and coming as close as 16 miles to study the icy moon using a suite of nine instruments. Europa’s appeal to scientists lies in its global ocean of liquid water hidden beneath its frozen crust. Jordan Evans, head of the mission, confirmed that Europa Clipper is on track for launch and described it as a “beast” of a spacecraft due to its size and complexity.
The path to the upcoming mission has not been without its challenges. Staffing issues at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), which developed the Europa Clipper alongside four other major projects, posed a hurdle. The decision on which rocket would be used to launch Clipper was also a subject of political dispute. Ultimately, NASA ruled out the Space Launch System due to potential damages caused by vibrations from its boosters and selected SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy instead, resulting in an estimated $2 billion in savings. This decision also allowed for a more direct trajectory to Jupiter, reducing the time to enter orbit around the planet to 2030.
The COVID-19 pandemic also impacted the mission, causing delays in the delivery of some scientific instruments. However, Evans announced that the final components required for the spacecraft’s testing have been installed, including its suite of cameras, spectrometers, and magnetometers, as well as its high-gain communications antenna. Testing will include subjecting the spacecraft to sound, vibration, shock, and extreme temperature swings to ensure its readiness.
Once testing is complete, the spacecraft will be transported to the launch site in Florida, where European-built solar arrays and antennas for the radar instrument will be installed. The radar will measure the thickness of Europa’s ice sheet and study its internal structure to potentially identify pockets of liquid water. The decision to install these components at the launch site allows for flexibility in case of any delivery delays.
Looking ahead, NASA’s planetary exploration efforts, including the Mars Sample Return mission, may face funding challenges due to spending caps on discretionary spending. Congress is expected to focus on funding the Artemis human exploration program for the Moon, potentially impacting the budget for planetary science missions. The Mars Sample Return mission is currently facing difficulties, with a recent independent review suggesting a launch date of 2030 and a total budget of $8 billion to $11 billion. NASA will be reviewing the panel’s recommendations and exploring alternative options to ensure the successful return of Martian rock specimens.
Despite challenges, NASA remains committed to exploring Europa and bringing back samples from Mars. The Europa Clipper mission, with its ambitious goal of searching for signs of life, marks a significant step forward in our understanding of the potential habitability of other celestial bodies.