facts about NASA's Europa Clipper mission to Jupiter's ocean moon 

Written By

Md.nurhossain

Here are some fascinating facts about NASA's Europa Clipper mission to Jupiter's ocean moon Europa 

Mission goal 

The mission's goal is to determine if Europa has habitable environments beneath its icy surface. 

Spacecraft 

The Europa Clipper spacecraft is NASA's largest for a planetary mission, measuring 100 feet with its solar arrays deployed. 

Instruments 

The spacecraft carries nine instruments, including cameras, a mass spectrometer, a gravity sensor, and a magnetometer. 

Orbit 

The spacecraft will orbit  Jupiter and make 49 close flybys of Europa in 2031. The orbit is  designed to minimize exposure to Jupiter's radiation. 

Journey 

The spacecraft will travel 1.8 billion miles over 5.5 years, using gravity assists from Earth and Mars to reach Jupiter in 2030. 

Global collaboration 

Over 4,000 people from the U.S. and Europe are involved in the mission, including scientists, engineers, and contractors. 

Poetic message 

The spacecraft carries a  poem by Ada Limón, U.S. Poet Laureate, along with millions of names and  "water" waveforms in over 100 languages. 

Ice-penetrating radar 

The spacecraft will use radar to search for pockets of liquid water beneath the ice shell. 

Radiation challenge 

The spacecraft's electronics are protected by a specialized vault to shield them from Jupiter's extreme radiation. 

Europa's potential 

Europa may have water, energy, and organic compounds, making it a promising place to find life beyond Earth. 

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