Europa Clipper: Countdown to Launch

The Europa Clipper spacecraft, set to launch in October 2024, is nearing completion as it prepares to embark on a mission to explore Jupiter's moon, Europa, and search for signs of life. The $5 billion mission will involve sailing past Europa nearly 50 times, coming as close as 16 miles from its surface, equipped with a suite of nine instruments to study the moon's icy crust and potential subsurface oceans. Despite facing staffing issues, political battles over launch vehicles, and delays due to the pandemic, the mission is on track and undergoing final testing before shipment to the launch site in Florida.