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Jupiter is millions of miles away from Earth, and exploration of the gas giant seemed impossible for years \u2014 until NASA\u2019s Galileo orbited the planet in 1995. Now, NASA\u2019s Europa Clipper is on a mission to discover more about one of Jupiter\u2019s moons. Following its Monday, October 14, launch, astronomers and space enthusiasts are curious how this mission could prove that a moon is an oceanic \u2014 and therefore, a potentially habitual \u2014 world.<\/p>\n
What Is the Europa Clipper Mission?<\/h2>\n
The Clipper was originally scheduled to launch on October 10. However, Hurricane Milton<\/a> pushed the launch back another four days. The mission is to explore the ice-covered moon of Europa and to determine whether it could be a habitable world. Moreover, the Clipper\u2019s mission could help scientists learn more about how life developed on Earth.<\/p>\n NASA mission project scientist\u00a0Robert Pappalardo detailed how the Clipper will delve deeper than we\u2019ve ever been before into Europa\u2019s history and current world.<\/p>\n \u201cThe instruments work together hand in hand to answer our most pressing questions about Europa,\u201d Robert Pappalardo said in a statement, per CNN<\/a>. \u201cWe will learn what makes Europa tick, from its core and rocky interior to its ocean and ice shell to its very thin atmosphere and the surrounding space environment.\u201d<\/p>\n Liftoff of Europa Clipper!<\/p>\n The #EuropaClipper<\/a> spacecraft lifted off at 12:06pm ET Oct. 14 from Launch Pad 39A aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket.<\/p>\n The mission will help scientists better understand how life developed on Earth and the potential for finding life beyond our\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/rzqbmqvyBh<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 NASA’s Kennedy Space Center (@NASAKennedy) October 14, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Robert elaborated that he hopes the Clipper can find \u201csome sort of oasis\u201d on Europa, \u201cwhere there\u2019s evidence of liquid water not far below the surface, and evidence of organics on the surface.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe it would be warm, maybe it would be the source of a plume,\u201d he said. \u201cThat could be somewhere that in the future maybe NASA could send a lander to scoop down below the surface and literally search for signs of life.\u201d<\/p>\n The Clipper will travel more than one billion miles and is expected to reach Jupiter in 2030. However, the spacecraft will not land on Europa\u2019s surface; it will only conduct flybys to study the moon.<\/p>\n A journey of 1.8 billion miles is about to begin. <\/p>\n All about NASA’s #EuropaClipper<\/a> mission to explore Jupiter’s intriguing moon Europa: https:\/\/t.co\/KX1yfEbiNu<\/a> <\/p>\n Launch is slated for Monday, Oct. 14. Here’s how to watch: https:\/\/t.co\/x4XNEuvd7U<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/qkUkVq39pT<\/a><\/p>\n\n
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