NASA's Europa Clipper probe successfully launched on October 14, 2024, atop a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The mission aims to investigate the potential for life beneath the icy surface of Europa, one of Jupiter's moons.
Liftoff occurred at 12:06 p.m. EDT, marking the start of a 1.8-billion-mile journey to Jupiter, with the spacecraft expected to enter orbit in April 2030. The Clipper will conduct 49 close flybys of Europa, which is believed to harbor a global subsurface ocean.
Project Scientist Robert Pappalardo emphasized the mission's goal: "We want to determine whether Europa has the potential to support simple life in the deep ocean beneath its icy layer." The spacecraft is equipped with nine advanced instruments designed to analyze Europa's surface and subsurface characteristics.
Originally slated for launch on October 10, the mission was delayed due to Hurricane Milton and a subsequent technical issue. The Falcon Heavy's full expendable mode was necessary to ensure the Clipper reached its destination, marking the first time all three first-stage boosters were used without recovery.
The Clipper's trajectory includes gravity-assist flybys of Mars and Earth to gain speed, with the first scientific observations scheduled to begin in May 2031. The mission is projected to last until September 2034, concluding with a controlled descent into Ganymede to prevent contamination of Europa.
NASA's Europa Clipper represents a significant step in astrobiology, exploring icy worlds that may harbor conditions suitable for life beyond Earth.