STATUS
ACTIVE
AGENCY
NASA
MISSION TYPE
Jupiter Orbiter / Europa Flyby
TARGET
Europa
LAUNCH
14 October 2024
ARRIVAL / RETURN
April 2030
MISSION OVERVIEW
About the mission
Europa Clipper is the first spacecraft designed for a detailed investigation of Europa. It will orbit Jupiter and repeatedly fly past Europa, examining the moon's ice shell, composition, geology and possible subsurface ocean.
OBJECTIVES
What is it trying to achieve?
01Determine the thickness and properties of Europa's ice shell.
02Investigate the ocean believed to exist beneath the surface.
03Study Europa's composition.
04Map geological features.
05Assess whether Europa has conditions suitable for life.