NASA is all set to launch its Europa Clipper spacecraft, which has been slated for an October 10 lift-off and hopes to investigate Jupiter’s low-observed moon in every aspect. The mission costs $5 billion and seeks to determine whether life might exist under the frozen surface of this moon.
Over the weeks, the spacecraft satisfaction will determine whether it can survive the radiation near Europa. ‘We are ready for Jupiter’ is what Evans project manager ‘jet propulsion’ laboratory NASA’ has said staying after months of enormous stress testing on the transistors of the Europa Clipper, which included a throwing reliability concerns raised early this year AP News Service.
The 49 scheduled flybys of the moon are expected to be damaging to the transistors, degradation occurring between the moons flybys, during off periods of three weeks in between each flyby.
A narrow window for launch
The communications delay over the deep space network makes the launching mission all the more important. The case of Europa Clipper a spaceship to be deployed using a rocket vehicle Falcon Heavy by Space X has a very short window of three weeks for the launches to take place. If this window is missed, it means NASA is going to have to wait for a little more than a year to get the next one, when the planets are in a position where gravity assists from Mars and Earth would be helpful are required.
Six years to Jupiter
Once launched, it is expected to take a space probe that NASA has constructed to be the largest to be dedicated to the study of planets, six more years to get to Jupiter. Having established a constant presence in the region, it will fly around Jupiter every three week capturing close up imaging data of the surface of Europa at times within 16 miles of the moon. In its most extended configuration, the space vehicle is almost 10 meters in length with solar panels unfurled. This space vehicle will also make use of advanced tools such as ice penetrating radar to image nearly all parts of the moon.
Symbol of Earth’s connection
It mainly consists of active tectonics, an ocean underneath the ice shell and more than two times of water than the earth. One of the aspects of the mission of Europa Clipper is to explore the moon’s surface more in detail, hence it will be fettered with a triangular metal plate that depicts Earth’s connection to the moon andenhance the understanding of the universe and its components.
But as the launch date fast approaches, members of the team within NASA still have a sense of confidence. “We’ve tested everything that needs testicles and everything that could conflict with their successful journey,” hard Evans added.
