Europa Clipper: Exploring Jupiter’s Ocean Moon (Mission Overview)

NASA’s Europa Clipper is the first mission dedicated to studying Jupiter’s icy moon Europa, one of the most promising places in our solar system to find an environment suitable for life outside of Earth. Evidence suggests that beneath Europa’s frozen surface is a global ocean of water, and scientists want to find out if there’s also the right chemistry and energy to sustain life.

Europa Clipper is equipped with nine instruments and a gravity experiment. It will orbit Jupiter and make 49 flybys of Europa, gathering data to help scientists understand the moon’s geology, composition, and interior. While not a life-detection mission, Europa Clipper will answer key questions about the moon’s potential habitability.

Europa Clipper is expected to launch in October 2024 from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida and arrive at Jupiter in 2030.

Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/KSC/APL

[nervana]

So little exposure, I wish the media cared about these milestones too

[Billybobble]

One of my prime life goals is to still be alive when the data from this mission kicks in. I am SOO ready for this mission. Thank you to all involved for your expertise in continuing to evolve our understanding of nature, and the universe. Hopefully see you in 2030! (I'll be 50, so got my fingers crossed)

[montylc]

I've been waiting for this mission since a teenager in the late 1970's. I'm 63 now and just hope I live long enough to see the science results.

[Sepheryn]

The images from Europa are going to be stunning. Hope I'm still around in 6 years to see them.

[panagiotisvarelas]

I am 34 years old, and projects like this one are a reason to be optimistic and desire to live to see the outcomes. Amazing

[garlandstyle]

Oh man, I'll be 82. Hope I can see this. 😀

[permalmgren]

Okay, I will be 70 years (young)! I also hope to be alive to witness such a glorious mission❤ Thank you NASA🎉

[dhickey]

Our planetary exploration missions have always surpassed all expectations. You folks are our best minds. May you continue the tradition. Good luck.

[ross]

Nice to get an update on this mission just before it launches. I look forward to other future missions too, but when they have 5, 10, 15 year timeframes they seem more distant

[StressKind]

The way Tracy Drain is excited about this just warms my heart.

[Tychoxi]

now imagine if nasa was funded properly instead of miserly

[Lone_Star]

I'm so happy to be alive for this mission. I've been fascinated by Europa ever since I heard about it in school. 💚

[kennyryan]

Only mission I look more forward to is the Titan Dragonfly mission. I need to see what those lakes look like!

[NicolasAlexanderOtto]

I can still remember how me and my peers came up with what alien life could be harbored by that ocean back in high school. I am so excited for this! Although we speculated about a lander that would actually melt into the ocean through the ice and dive. But I guess that is another 10 years off depending on what clipper finds. I wish we had more funds to be allocated to space exploration instead of arms races and security issues, but as long as education on earth is not universal and free for everyone that seems like a distant dream.

[evertoncarpes]

It's fantastic to be alive while this is happening; I'm almost 40, and I hope I will be alive to see the concrete proof of life beyond Earth, but I'm already glad to know my son is growing in a world so close to finally do the most important steps, not only for humanity but for Earth's life as a whole. Four billion years of life can stop in the blink of an eye while we are all here in the same bag, but finally, we are getting the first steps out of our nest! Go, Clipper! Go, NASA! You are not only our eyes over another ocean planet; you are the life from Earth getting a new and unique hope.

[vimak]

Good luck NASA! Thank you for extending our understanding of the world.

[Utku_Erkan]

Awesome, all the best to NASA/JPL in this mission. JPL; your objectives are to excel human life/prosperity beyond extraordinary and ease our lives.

[IngridSaybe]

It is more than exciting! In fact is a feat. Thanks for the information once again.

[raidermaxx]

I can't beleive there was so much drama and this mission almost didint happen because of that crazy technical glitch with the transistors!!! Fingers crossed!

[Deedee-eesg]

Really exciting and thrilling! The work that goes into all these missions is incredible.