Europa Clipper Mission to Jupiter's Moon Europa

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Questions and Answers

Which of these is a key ingredient for life that is present on Europa?

  • Atmosphere
  • Solid ice
  • Liquid water (correct)
  • Volcanoes

Europa Clipper is the largest spacecraft ever built for a planetary mission.

True (A)

What is the primary energy source for the potential ocean on Europa?

Jupiter's gravity

Europa Clipper will use ______ maneuvers to gain speed on its journey to Jupiter.

<p>gravity assist</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the estimated amount of time it will take Europa Clipper to reach Jupiter?

<p>5.5 years (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How many times will the Europa Clipper spacecraft fly over Europa during its mission?

<p>49 (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the following celestial bodies with their corresponding planets:

<p>Europa = Jupiter Mars = Sun Earth = Sun Jupiter = Sun</p> Signup and view all the answers

The Europa Clipper mission aims to directly search for life on Europa.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Europa Clipper will enter Jupiter's orbit in April 2030.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the closest distance the Europa Clipper spacecraft will get to the surface of Europa?

<p>16 miles (25 km)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the NASA administrator mentioned in the article?

<p>Bill Nelson</p> Signup and view all the answers

The data gathered by the Europa Clipper's instruments will help scientists estimate the thickness of Europa's ______ shell.

<p>icy</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the celestial body to its description:

<p>Europa = Jupiter's largest moon, the biggest moon in our solar system Ganymede = A moon of Jupiter with an icy surface hiding a possible ocean Sun = The star at the center of our solar system</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Europa Clipper Mission

A NASA spacecraft mission to study Europa, a moon of Jupiter.

Europa Flybys

The spacecraft will fly over Europa 49 times to map it.

Icy Shell Thickness

Scientists aim to estimate the thickness of Europa’s icy surface.

Search for Life Compatibility

The mission's goal is to check if areas beneath Europa’s surface could support life.

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Jupiter's Largest Moon Ganymede

Europa Clipper will crash intentionally into Ganymede after its mission.

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Europa Clipper

NASA spacecraft launched to explore Europa, a moon of Jupiter.

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Jupiter

The largest planet in our solar system, known for its many moons.

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Liquid water

Essential for life; a key ingredient possibly existing under Europa's surface.

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Gravity assist

A technique used by spacecraft to gain speed by passing near a planet.

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Icy crust

The outer layer of Europa that covers its potential ocean.

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Microbial life

Simple, microscopic life forms that may exist in Europa's ocean.

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Chemical elements

Basic substances like carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen necessary for life.

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Launch date

The date when the Europa Clipper was launched, October 14, 2024.

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Study Notes

Europa Clipper Mission to Jupiter's Moon Europa

  • Europa Clipper, a NASA mission, launched on October 14, 2024, to study Jupiter's moon Europa.
  • The spacecraft is the largest ever built for a planetary mission.
  • It successfully entered orbit about an hour and 10 minutes after launch.
  • Solar arrays power the spacecraft.

Why Study Europa?

  • Europa is a prime candidate for harboring alien life due to possible presence of liquid water, energy sources, and essential chemical elements.
  • Scientists believe a vast saltwater ocean exists beneath Europa's icy crust, potentially twice the volume of Earth's oceans.
  • Jupiter's gravitational pull on Europa generates internal heat, preventing the ocean from freezing.
  • The moon may possess elements like carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, potentially supporting microbial life.

Journey to Europa

  • The distance to Jupiter is approximately 480 million miles (772 million km).
  • The journey to Europa will take approximately 5.5 years.
  • Europa Clipper uses gravity assists from Mars and Earth to gain speed for its journey.

Europa Clipper Mission Details

  • The spacecraft will enter Jupiter's orbit in April 2030.
  • Europa Clipper will perform 49 close flybys of Europa over the next 3 years.
  • Closest approach to Europa's surface will be 16 miles (25 km).
  • Nine instruments on the spacecraft will analyze Europa's icy shell and subsurface ocean.
  • The data gathered will determine the thickness of the ice and composition of the water.

Mission Goals

  • The primary goal is not to find life but to assess if environments below Europa's surface could support life.
  • After its mission is complete, the spacecraft will be de-orbited and crash into Ganymede.
  • The mission is to expand our understanding of life's potential not just in our solar system, but in other celestial bodies.

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