NASA’s Europa Clipper
NASA’s Europa Clipper is slated to launch in 2024 and reach its target in 2030. Once in orbit around Jupiter, the probe will perform nearly 50 close flybys of its moon Europa, coming as close as 16 miles (25 km) to its icy surface. A primary goal of the mission is to spot potentially habitable locations beneath Europa’s icy shell. To that end, the probe will analyze Europa using an array of instruments, including cameras, spectrometers, and ice-penetrating radar. With Europa Clipper, we’ll finally be able to peer inside this fascinating frozen world.
