Tag

Europa Clipper

All articles tagged with #europa clipper

science28 days ago

Mysterious Spider-Like Formations on Europa and Jupiter Spark Alien Life Theories

Scientists have proposed that the mysterious spider-like feature observed on Europa's surface, initially thought to be a structure within a crater, may have formed through processes similar to Earth's lake stars, but likely resulted from an asteroid impact that created cracks allowing salty water to seep through, providing insights into Europa's subsurface and potential signs of extraterrestrial life.

space-exploration5 months ago

NASA's Europa Clipper Radar Excels During Mars Flyby

NASA's Europa Clipper spacecraft tested its radar during a flyby of Mars, using the planet's proximity to calibrate instruments ahead of its 2030 mission to Europa. The successful test involved bouncing radio waves off Mars and collecting data, helping scientists prepare for detailed studies of Europa's icy shell, composition, and structure. The spacecraft, launched in October 2024, aims to explore whether Europa's environment could support life.

space1 year ago

Jupiter's New Ring: Legacy of a Historic Comet Collision

A new hypothesis suggests that the collision of Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 with Jupiter in 1994 may have left the planet with a new, thin ring. The comet's fragments, which were the first observed hitting another Solar System body, could have generated dust particles that settled into a ring around Jupiter. This proposal, presented by Professor Mihaly Horanyi, awaits confirmation from NASA's Europa Clipper mission, which will study Jupiter and its moons in 2030.

science-and-technology1 year ago

Europa Clipper Advances on 1.8-Billion-Mile Journey to Study Jupiter's Moon

NASA's Europa Clipper mission, launched on October 14 aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket, is currently 20 million km from Earth and has begun deploying its instruments. The spacecraft will travel over 2.9 billion km, performing flybys of Mars and Earth before reaching Jupiter to conduct detailed studies of its moon Europa. Key components like solar arrays and a magnetometer boom have been successfully deployed, with more instruments to be activated in the coming weeks. The mission aims to explore Europa's potential for harboring life.

science-and-technology1 year ago

Europa Clipper Begins Scientific Journey to Jupiter's Icy Moon

NASA's Europa Clipper mission has successfully deployed its first science instruments as it travels to Jupiter's moon Europa, believed to have a subsurface ocean. Launched on October 14, the spacecraft has traveled 13 million miles from Earth and will reach Jupiter in 2030. It will conduct 49 flybys to study Europa's potential to harbor life. The spacecraft's magnetometer and radar antennas have been deployed, with further tests planned. The mission will use gravity assists from Mars and Earth to reach its destination.

science-and-technology1 year ago

Europa Clipper Advances in Quest for Life on Jupiter's Moon

NASA's Europa Clipper mission is progressing well as the spacecraft travels deeper into space, with successful deployment of its solar arrays and magnetometer boom. The mission aims to explore Jupiter's moon Europa, focusing on its icy shell, ocean interactions, composition, and geology to assess its potential for habitability. The spacecraft will conduct a gravity assist in December 2026 before reaching the Jupiter system, with various instruments being tested en route.