Europe clipper

Europe clipper
Artist's impression of the Europa Clipper
Mission goal	Jupiter's moon Europa
Client	NASA
Launcher	SLS , Falcon Heavy or Delta IV Heavy
Instruments
PIMS, MISE, EIS, REASON, E-THEMIS, MASPEX, UVS, SUDA
Course of the mission
Start date	September 2025
launch pad	Kennedy Space Center

Europe Clipper is a planned for the late 2020s and early 2030s spacecraft mission of NASA . The mission is to provide detailed information about Jupiter's moon Europa , with a focus on researching its habitability . A radiation-tolerant spacecraft is to repeatedly fly past Europe on an elongated orbit around Jupiter, i.e. carry out so-called Flybys . On the one hand, this is intended to reduce the radiation dose to the probe and, on the other hand, to allow a greater time span for the transmission of the data during each flyby than would be the case with an orbiter . 45 flyby flights with distances of 2700 km to 25 km are planned. It is possible that a lander will be deployed in a follow-up mission.

Instruments

“This is a giant step in our search for oases that could support life in our own celestial backyard. We're confident that this versatile set of science instruments would produce exciting discoveries […]. ”

“This is a huge step in our search for oases that could support life in our own stellar backyard. We are confident that this versatile set of scientific instruments will lead to exciting discoveries [...]. "

- Curt Niebur, Europe Program Scientist at NASA Headquarters in Washington : NASA Homepage

When selecting the instruments, on the one hand their scientific benefit and on the other hand the load capacity of the vehicle must be evaluated.

These four instruments form the basis:

• The spectrometer Shortwave Infrared Spectrometer (SWIRS) will shoot images of Europa's surface composition. For each of the 45 planned approaches and take-offs on the moon, first low-resolution, then high-resolution scans are carried out with the spectrometer.
• An Ice-Penetrating Radar (IPR) radar should determine the thickness of the ice shell and find out whether there are bodies of water underneath, as in Antarctica .
• Two other instruments are the Topographical Imager (TI) and the Ion and Neutral Mass Spectrometer (INMS) .

NASA had organized a call for tenders for other instruments that are supposed to carry out investigations on the trip . These 9 devices were selected from 33 submissions:

• Plasma Instrument for Magnetic Sounding (PIMS) : This instrument balances the magnetic signals of the plasma currents that prevail around Europe. In conjunction with a magnetometer , it measures the thickness of Europe's ice envelope, the depth of the ocean and its salinity. Research director for this instrument is Dr. Joseph Westlake of the Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) at Johns Hopkins University in Laurel , Maryland .

• Mapping Imaging Spectrometer for Europe (MISE) : This instrument determines the composition of Europe. It identifies and maps the distribution of organic matter, salts, acid anhydrides , water and ice sections and other substances. This can determine the habitability of Europe's ocean. Head of research is Dr. Diana Blaney from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena , California .

• Europe Imaging System (EIS) : The wide and near-angle camera of this instrument will map Europe with 50 m resolution. It will bring images of Europe's surfaces with up to 100 times higher resolution. Head of research is Dr. Elizabeth Turtle of the Applied Physics Laboratory at Johns Hopkins University in Laurel , Maryland .

• Radar for Europa Assessment and Sounding: Ocean to Near-surface (REASON) : This two-frequency radar can penetrate ice. It is intended to categorize Europe's ice crust from the surface to the ocean and to show hidden structures and potential water reservoirs therein. Research director is Dr. Donald Blankenship from the University of Texas at Austin , Texas, USA .

• Europa Thermal Emission Imaging System (E-THEMIS) : This device is, to put it casually, a heat detector. It will deliver high-resolution images with multispectral thermal information. This allows active areas to be shown, such as those that occur during eruptions of water vapor . Research director is Dr. Philip Christensen from Arizona State University in Tempe , Arizona .

• Mass Spectrometer for Planetary Exploration / Europe (MASPEX) : This mass spectrometer will determine the composition of the surface and the seabed. To do this, it measures Europe's thin atmosphere and other material that is released into space. Research director is Dr. Jack (Hunter) from the Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio , Texas .

• Ultraviolet Spectrograph / Europe (UVS) : The NASA Hubble Space Telescope observed water vapor over the South Pole of Europe in 2012. If this observation could be proven, the researchers could deduce the chemical composition of the moon. This instrument uses the same technique that was used for Hubble to detect possible water vapor eruptions on Europe's surface. It will also be able to reveal small clouds of vapor and provide data on the composition and dynamics of the atmosphere. Research director is Dr. Kurt Retherford of the Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio , Texas .

• Surface Dust Mass Analyzer (SUDA) : This instrument will measure the composition of small, solid particles emitted from Europe. On flights close to the surface, it is possible to collect samples of the surface and ejected clouds. Research director is Dr. Sascha Kempf from the University of Colorado in Boulder in the US state of Colorado .

• Space Environmental and Composition Investigation near the Europan Surface (SPECIES) : This device was not chosen for scientific studies of the moon, but to advance technological development. It is a combination of mass spectrometer and gas chromatograph that could be used for future missions. Research director is Dr. Mehdi Benna of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt , Maryland .

Due to increasing budget overruns and changed political framework conditions from 2019 onwards, NASA abandoned the development of the following previously selected instruments:

• Interior Characterization of Europe using Magnetometry (ICEMAG) : This much more sensitive magnetometer was intended to measure the depth and salinity of the subterranean ocean using multi-frequency electromagnetic sound sounding. Head of research was Dr. Carol Raymond of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). NASA announced the end of development on March 5, 2019.

course

The space probe is scheduled to launch from Cape Canaveral . The originally intended start in July 2023 with a direct flight and arrival at Jupiter in January or April 2026 turned out to be impractical, as the SLS Block 1 Cargo launch vehicle required for this will not be available in time. Instead, the aim is now to have a start window in September / October 2025. This enables swing-bys on Venus and thus also the use of a weaker rocket that is always available, such as the Falcon Heavy or the Delta IV Heavy . The flight time to Jupiter is extended to 6.5 years.

Once at Jupiter, four flights will take place past Ganymede within three months in order to approach the trajectory of Europe. Most of the time, the vehicle will travel outside of the strongest radiation regions (see also Jupiter's radiation belt ) and only dips close to Europe for brief moments. To further minimize the risk of radiation, the most sensitive instruments are housed in a shielded steel box. This box will be surrounded by LPG tanks to further shield the radiation.

The mission will consist of four segments. In this way, as much of the surface as possible should be absorbed under good lighting conditions. Pre-established observations will be made on each flight. On arrival and departure first low-resolution scans are carried out with the spectrometer, then high-resolution scans. When entering and exiting 400 km, the radar will be used.

The moons Ganymede and Callisto are also passed during these flights . However, this is not a scientific priority. If the planned number of 45 European flybys is completed, an expanded mission could take place. Eventually the vehicle could be aimed at Ganymede before the fuel is used up or the electronics are destroyed by the radiation.

Planning phases

A planning phase should run from February 27, 2017 to September 2018.

A more recent plan is to land on Europe. For this the vehicle will have to be much heavier. On the one hand to transport additional fuel, on the other hand to carry scientific equipment designed for a landing. The vehicle will be able to work for around 20 days in the prevailing radiation environment. Two years ago only ten days were possible. The option should be integrated to separate instruments or other ballast from the vehicle should there be problems with the weight or the drive on the way.

A general cost or schedule has not yet been defined. That should be done in the next planning phase.

Web links

• NASA project presentation (English)

Individual evidence

1. ^ Note from the Project Manager. (PDF) Jet Propulsion Laboratory, May 2018, accessed on March 11, 2019 . 
2. ↑ Management of NASA's Europe Mission. (PDF) NASA Office Inspector General, May 2019, accessed May 30, 2019 . 
3. ↑ ^{a b} NASA - Assessments of Major Projects . Government Accountability Office , April 2020.
4. ↑ Tony Greicius: NASA Mission Named 'Europa Clipper'. NASA , March 9, 2017, accessed August 27, 2017 . 
5. ↑ ^{a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q} Europe Mission: In Depth. Missons. (No longer available online.) In: Solar System Exploration. NASA, archived from the original on February 5, 2017 ; accessed on June 1, 2017 (English). Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  
6. ↑ ^{a b c d} Jeff Foust: Europa mission enters next development phase. In: SpaceNews. SpaceNews, Inc., February 22, 2017, accessed August 6, 2017 . 
7. ↑ ^{a b} NASA to replace Europa Clipper instrument. In: spacenews.com. March 6, 2019, accessed March 20, 2019 . 
8. ^ Fiscal Year 2020 Budget of the US Government. (PDF) United States Federal Government , March 11, 2019, accessed March 11, 2019 . 
9. ↑ Clipper Slipper: Will NASA's Space Launch System be ready to launch a Europe mission in 2022? Planetary Society, November 28, 2017, accessed April 30, 2019 .