overview
Europa Clipper’s goal is to determine whether there are places below the surface of Jupiter’s Ice moon Europa that could support life. Unlocking the mystery of Jupiter’s ocean moon.
This is NASA’s biggest astrobiology mission, It has the potential for habitable worlds beyond our planet. This mission has three objectives.
- Understand the nature of the ice shell
- Ocean beneath
- Moon’s composition & geology
Why Europa Clipper?
The Europa Clipper mission has three main science goals: to determine the thickness of Europa’s Icy shell, how the ocean interacts with the surface, and to investigate Europa’s composition.
Why is NASA focusing on Europa Clipper?
NASA found some biological hints that may sustain life. Here are some points we found that may address some light on it.
- Surface Ice with organic compounds: Several studies say that organic material may exist on Europe’s surface. These compounds could have originated from the ocean below.
- Plumes of Water Vapor: Evidence of water vapor plumes erupting from Europa’s surface could provide an easier way to study the composition of the ocean beneath.
- Water is essential for life: Water is essential to form a life cycle this is a basic thing scientists notice from any planet. NASA hopes that Europa’s Ocean will support some form of life.
- Chemical Ingredients for Life: The moon’s icy surface, with signs of complex organic molecules and chemical exchanges between the ocean and the surface, raises the possibility of a habitable environment.
Habitability of Europa?
Life is only on Earth, but we haven’t yet found it anywhere else in the universe. How do we search for life beyond Earth? According to science, we should look at three key points to predict whether any planet may preserve life.
- Liquid Water
- Chemistry (chemical composition in the atmosphere)
- Energy (to fuel the life cycle)
What is Astrobiology?
Astrobiology is a study field where we deal with the origin, evolution & distribution of life in the universe. It combines biology, chemistry, physics, planetary science, and astronomy to address fundamental questions about life in the cosmos.
Key point of Astrobiology:
- Origin of life: Astrobiologists investigate how life began on Earth and whether similar processes might occur on other planets or moons. They study ancient Earth environments and replicate conditions that might foster life elsewhere.
- Habitability: A central focus is identifying “habitable” environments, where life as we know it could exist. This involves searching for liquid water, an energy source, and organic molecules on other celestial bodies, like Mars, Europa (a moon of Jupiter), or exoplanets.
- Extraterrestrial life: Astrobiologists are engaged in the search for microbial life and intelligent life. They analyze data from space missions, telescopes, and samples from planets, moons, and comets to find signs of life.
Will Europa Clipper detect life on Europa?
Europa Clipper will not directly search for life itself, but will connect the dots on whether life-sustaining environments exist. By studying the moon’s chemical composition, geologic activity, magnetism, and other properties, Clipper should be able to determine whether Europa has the right conditions to support life.
Radiation Risk?
Radiation is a significant challenge for the Europa Clipper mission because Europa orbits within Jupiter’s intense radiation belts. Jupiter’s magnetic field traps high-energy particles, creating a hazardous environment around the planet and its moons, particularly Europa.
What Scientific Instrument Will Europa Clipper Carry?
Europa Clipper has a powerful suite of nine science instruments that will work in sync while collecting data to accomplish the mission’s science objectives. During each flyby, the full array of instruments will gather measurements and images that will be layered together to paint the full picture of Europa.
- Plasma Instrument for Magnetic Sounding (PIMS): Jupiter’s magnetic field, the largest in the solar system, traps the charged particle gas–plasma that fills the space surrounding Europa (and the rest of the Jupiter system). As Europa moves in its orbit, the magnetic field varies.
- Europa Clipper Magnetometer: The magnetometer investigation aims to confirm that Europa’s ocean exists, measure its depth and salinity, and measure the moon’s ice shell thickness
- Mapping Imaging Spectrometer for Europa (MISE): The mission’s infrared spectrometer will map the distribution of ice, salts, organics, and the warmest hotspots in Europa.
- Europa Imaging System (EIS): A wide-angle camera and a narrow-angle camera, each with an eight-megapixel sensor, will produce high-resolution color and stereoscopic images of Europa.
- Radar for Europa Assessment and Sounding: Ocean to Near-surface (REASON): Ice-penetrating radar will probe Europa’s icy shell for the moon’s suspected ocean and study the ice’s structure and thickness.
- Europa Thermal Emission Imaging System (E-THEMIS): The thermal imager uses infrared light to distinguish warmer regions on Europa where warm liquid water may be near the surface or might have erupted onto the surface.
- MAss SPectrometer for Planetary EXploration/Europa (MASPEX): The mass spectrometer will analyze gases in Europa’s faint atmosphere and possible plumes. It will study the chemistry of the moon’s suspected subsurface ocean, how the ocean and surface exchange material, and how radiation alters compounds on the moon’s surface.
- Europa Ultraviolet Spectrograph: By collecting ultraviolet light with a telescope, and creating images, the mission’s ultraviolet spectrograph will help determine the composition of Europa’s atmospheric gases and surface materials.
- Surface Dust Mass Analyzer (SUDA): Tiny meteorites eject bits of Europa’s surface into space, and a subsurface ocean or reservoirs might vent material into space as plumes. The dust analyzer will identify that material’s chemistry and area of origin and offer clues to Europa’s ocean salinity
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