The Nationwide Aeronautics and Area Administration (NASA) is making ready the Europa Clipper spacecraft for a mega launch in October this 12 months. It’s the “largest spacecraft NASA has ever constructed for a planetary mission,” NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory JPL mentioned in a put up on X earlier this week.
Listed here are Prime 5 key details that you must know in regards to the Jupiter-bound Europa Clipper spacecraft. Watch movies for particulars:
1. Mission purpose: Europa Clipper will orbit Jupiter and concentrate on the planet’s ice-encased moon Europa. NASA mentioned the Europa Clipper spacecraft is just not a life-detection mission. “Its main science purpose is to find out whether or not there are locations beneath the moon’s icy floor that would assist life,” NASA mentioned.
Europa is taken into account one of many “most promising probably liveable environments” within the photo voltaic system.
The important thing questions on Jupiter’s moon Europa that this mission goals to reply are: How thick and the way lively is its icy shell? How deep is its world ocean? Does it have the circumstances wanted to assist life?
2. How huge is the Europa Clipper spacecraft: NASA mentioned it’s the largest spacecraft it has ever constructed planetary mission. “With its large photo voltaic arrays deployed, Europa Clipper spans greater than 100 ft (about 30 m) – in regards to the size of a basketball court docket – and is the most important spacecraft NASA has ever developed for a planetary mission,” it added. The spacecraft will probably be about 16 ft (5 meters) in top.
3. Why research Europa: As per NASA, Jupiter’s moon reveals sturdy proof of an ocean of liquid water beneath its icy crust. It’s suspected to have all of the “elements” wanted for all times as we all know it. Visiting Europa might assist reply huge questions like, “How did the universe start and evolve?”.
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4. How will Europa Clipper research Jupiter’s icy moon: NASA defined by way of a video that the Europa Clipper will carry out 50 flybys of Europa to collect measurements of the inner ocean, map the floor composition and geology, and hunt for plumes of water vapor which may be venting from the icy crust.
ALSO READ: NASA’s Juno spacecraft captures Jupiter’s moon Io because it makes closest-ever method
Watch this video to know intimately how the NASA will use science devices to review Europa inside and outside:
5. Date, time and place of launch; mission timeline: Europa Clipper spacecraft will launch on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Area Heart in Florida. Its launch interval opens on October 10, NASA mentioned. The spacecraft will arrive at Jupiter in 2030. As soon as in orbit round Jupiter, it’s going to conduct almost 50 flybys of Europa, shifting its flight path for every encounter to soar over a unique location in order that it will definitely scans nearly your complete moon.
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Printed: 14 Apr 2024, 10:47 PM IST
