Europa Clipper Solar Array Install

Europa Clipper Solar Array Install
Date Created:2024-08-02
Center:KSC
Keywords: NASA , National Aeronautical and Space Administration , KSC , Kennedy Space Center , Jet Propulsion Lab , JPL , Europa Clipper , Europa , Jupiter , moon , Icy moon , LSP , Launch Servies Program , spacecraft , Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL)
Albums: SpaceX_Europa_Clipper
Location:PHSF
Photographer:NASA/Glenn Benson

The solar array installation for the Europa Clipper mission involves the attachment and testing of the spacecraft's large, deployable solar panels. These solar arrays are crucial for powering the spacecraft during its extended mission in the harsh environment of deep space.Design and Functionality:The solar arrays are designed to generate electricity from sunlight, which is particularly challenging given that Europa is five times farther from the Sun than Earth, receiving only about 4% of the sunlight that reaches our planet.The arrays are made up of multiple panels, with each array extending outward to maximize surface area and energy capture. The total wingspan of the deployed arrays is approximately 30 meters (98 feet).Installation Process:The installation begins with the careful attachment of the solar panels to the spacecraft's main body. Engineers use precision tools to secure the panels, ensuring they are aligned correctly and can deploy reliably once the spacecraft is in space.After physical installation, the solar arrays undergo a series of tests to verify their structural integrity and electrical functionality. This includes deployment tests to simulate how the arrays will unfold once the spacecraft is in orbit around Jupiter.The tests also involve exposing the arrays to conditions that mimic the space environment, including vacuum testing, thermal cycling, and exposure to radiation, to ensure they can withstand the harsh conditions near Europa.Significance:The successful installation and testing of the solar arrays are critical milestones for the Europa Clipper mission. The spacecraft will rely on these arrays to power its scientific instruments and communication systems throughout its mission, which includes multiple flybys of Europa to study its ice shell and the ocean beneath.The installation of the Europa Clipper's solar arrays marks a significant step toward the mission's goal of exploring one of the most intriguing moons in our solar system, potentially advancing our understanding of the habitability of other worlds.

#nasa #SpaceExploration#NASAmission#MarsMission#MoonMission#ArtemisProgram#PerseveranceRover#HubbleSpaceTelescope#JamesWebb#NASAInnovation#Astronomy#SpaceScience#NASAResearch#SpaceTech#HumanSpaceflight#NASAHistory#SpaceShuttle#InternationalSpaceStation#NASASocial#SpaceXNASA#NASAInspires#NASAGoddard#NASAJetPropulsionLaboratory#JunoMission#NASAImages#NASAEarth#NASAClimate#SpaceWalk#NASAAstronauts#SpaceExplorers#NASAExploration#NASAUpdates#PlanetaryScience#DeepSpace#NASALaunch#SpaceTechnology#CosmicJourney#NASAOutreach#NASAAstronomy#SpaceInnovation#NASAInterns#NASAEducation#NASAVideo#LunarExploration#NASAUniverse#Astrobiology#NASAEngineering#FutureOfSpace#NASAScience#ExploreSpace

[PassionPathways]

2:19 2:20 2:21 2:25 2:25 2:25 2:25 2:25 2:26 2:27 2:27 2:27 2:27 😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮