PREVIEW

NASA's Europa Clipper spacecraft has begun its long journey to Jupiter, where it will study Europa, one of the planet's moons believed to contain a vast subsurface ocean that may harbour conditions suitable for life, by blasting off on Monday (14October2024).

The spacecraft was launched at 17:06 BST on Monday aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from Launch Pad 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Europa Clipper is the largest spacecraft ever built by NASA for a mission to another planet and the first NASA mission specifically dedicated to studying an ocean world beyond Earth. The spacecraft will cover 2.9 billion kilometres (1.8 billion miles), utilising gravity assists to reach its destination—first passing Mars in four months, then returning to Earth for another flyby in 2026. It will begin orbiting Jupiter in April 2030 and is scheduled to make 49 close flybys of Europa.

"Congratulations to the Europa Clipper team for commencing the first journey to an ocean world beyond Earth," said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. "NASA continues to lead the world in exploration and discovery, and this mission is no exception. By venturing into the unknown, Europa Clipper will help us determine whether there is potential for life, not only in our solar system but also among the billions of moons and planets beyond our Sun."

Shortly after liftoff, the spacecraft's second stage activated, and the payload fairing, or nose cone, opened, revealing Europa Clipper. Around an hour post-launch, the spacecraft separated from the rocket, and ground control received a signal confirming successful deployment.

Communication was established with NASA's Deep Space Network in Canberra, Australia, at 18:13 BST, and initial telemetry indicated the spacecraft was healthy and functioning as expected.

“We’re thrilled about the ground-breaking science Europa Clipper will produce for generations to come,” said Nicky Fox, Associate Administrator of NASA's Science Mission Directorate. “NASA’s scientific efforts are interconnected, and this mission builds on the legacy of our earlier explorations of Jupiter, including the Juno, Galileo, and Voyager missions, in our quest to find habitable worlds beyond Earth.”

The primary goal of Europa Clipper is to assess whether Europa could support life.
Similar in size to Earth's Moon, Europa has a vastly different interior. NASA’s Galileo mission in the 1990s found compelling evidence that beneath Europa’s icy surface lies a deep, salty ocean containing more water than all of Earth’s oceans combined. There is also evidence that Europa might possess organic compounds and energy sources essential for life.

If the mission confirms Europa’s habitability, it could indicate that there are far more worlds in our solar system and beyond that could support life than previously thought.

"We’re excited to see Europa Clipper embark on its journey to explore a potentially habitable ocean world,” said Laurie Leshin, Director of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. “While it’s bittersweet to send something we’ve worked on for so long out into space, we know this remarkable spacecraft will expand our understanding of the solar system and inspire future explorations.”

In 2031, Europa Clipper will begin a series of science-focused flybys of Europa, coming as close as 25 kilometres (16 miles) to the surface. The spacecraft carries nine advanced science instruments, including ice-penetrating radar, high-resolution cameras, and a thermal instrument designed to detect areas of warmer ice and potential water eruptions. These instruments will work in tandem to analyse the moon's icy shell, thin atmosphere, and deep interior.

To power its instruments, the spacecraft is equipped with NASA’s largest solar arrays ever used on an interplanetary mission, spanning 30.5 metres (100 feet) when fully extended. With fuel on board, the spacecraft weighs approximately 5,900 kilograms (13,000 pounds).
Over 4,000 people have contributed to the Europa Clipper mission since its formal approval in 2015.

"As Europa Clipper sets out on its journey, I’ll be reflecting on the countless hours of dedication, innovation, and teamwork that made this moment possible," said Jordan Evans, project manager at NASA JPL. "This launch is not only a new chapter in our exploration of the solar system but a significant leap towards unlocking the mysteries of another ocean world. It’s driven by our shared curiosity and the quest to answer the profound question, ‘Are we alone?’"

Europa Clipper has three core scientific objectives: to determine the thickness of Europa's icy shell and its interaction with the ocean beneath, to investigate its chemical composition, and to study its geological features. The detailed exploration of Europa will provide scientists with invaluable data to better understand the potential for life beyond Earth.