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NASA’s Europa Clipper Embarks on a Groundbreaking Mission
On Monday, NASA successfully launched the Europa Clipper spacecraft from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, utilizing a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket. This ambitious $5.2 billion mission aims to investigate one of the Solar System’s most intriguing sites for potential extraterrestrial life.
The Launch Details
The Falcon Heavy rocket ignited its 27 kerosene-fueled engines and ascended from Launch Complex 39A at precisely 12:06 PM EDT (16:06 UTC). The launch had been postponed by several days due to Hurricane Milton, which recently swept through Central Florida. With this launch, the Europa Clipper begins its five-and-a-half-year voyage toward Jupiter, where it will enter an orbit that allows it to make multiple passes by one of the planet’s many moons.
Exploring Europa: A Moon with Potential
Among Jupiter’s moons, Europa stands out as a focal point for scientific inquiry. Its surface is covered in ice, and compelling evidence suggests there exists a vast ocean of liquid water beneath this icy shell. The primary objective of the Europa Clipper is to assess whether this moon possesses essential elements conducive to life.
Read more about this mission here
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