View source for Astronomy:Europa Clipper

{{Short description|Planned NASA space mission to Jupiter}}
{{Infobox spaceflight
| name              = Europa Clipper
| names_list        = Europa Multiple Flyby Mission
| image             = Europa Clipper spacecraft model.png
| image_caption     = Artist's rendering of the ''Europa Clipper'' spacecraft
| image_size        = 300px

| mission_type      = [[Astronomy:Europa (moon)|Europa]] reconnaissance
| operator          = [[Organization:NASA|NASA]]
| COSPAR_ID         = 
| SATCAT            = 
| website           = {{url|https://europa.nasa.gov/}}
| mission_duration  = Cruise: 5.5 years<ref name="Leone" /><ref name="Phillips 2014" /><br/>Science phase: 4 years

| manufacturer      = [[Organization:Jet Propulsion Laboratory|Jet Propulsion Laboratory]]
| launch_mass       = {{cvt|6065|kg}}<ref name="SN20210129">{{Cite web |last=Foust |first=Jeff |date=January 29, 2021 |title=NASA seeks input on Europa Clipper launch options |url=https://spacenews.com/nasa-seeks-input-on-europa-clipper-launch-options/ |access-date=January 30, 2021 |website=SpaceNews}}</ref><ref name="Gov Home About" /><ref name="SextantMarch2018-Weight">{{Cite magazine |last1=Goldstein |first1=Barry |last2=Kastner |first2=Jason |date=March 2018 |title=Weigh Your Options Carefully |url=https://europa.nasa.gov/system/internal_resources/details/original/116_Europa-Clipper-Newsletter-External-vol2issue1_FINAL.pdf |url-status=live |magazine=The Sextant – Europa Clipper Newsletter |publisher=Jet Propulsion Laboratory |volume=2 |issue=1 |page=3 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200322181337/https://europa.nasa.gov/system/internal_resources/details/original/116_Europa-Clipper-Newsletter-External-vol2issue1_FINAL.pdf |archive-date=March 22, 2020 |access-date=September 20, 2018}} {{PD-notice}}</ref>
| dry_mass          = {{cvt|2616|kg}}<ref name=SextantMarch2018-Weight/>
| payload_mass      = {{cvt|352|kg}}
| dimensions        = Height: {{cvt|6|m}}<br/>Solar panel span: {{cvt|22|m}}<ref name="Gov Home About">[https://europa.nasa.gov/mission/about/ Europa Clipper Mission.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210318052947/https://europa.nasa.gov/mission/about/ |date=March 18, 2021 }} Europa Clipper home page at NASA. Accessed on October 2, 2019 {{PD-notice}}</ref>
| power             = 600 [[Watt|watt]]s from [[Physics:Solar panels on spacecraft|solar panels]]<ref name="Europa Clipper Update">{{Cite news |last1=Goldstein |first1=Barry |last2=Pappalardo |first2=Robert |date=February 19, 2015 |title=Europa Clipper Update |work=Outer Planets Assessment Group |url=http://www.lpi.usra.edu/opag/feb2015/presentations/04_Clipper%20OPAG%20Feb%202015.pdf |url-status=live |access-date=July 24, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160610230138/http://www.lpi.usra.edu/opag/feb2015/presentations/04_Clipper%20OPAG%20Feb%202015.pdf |archive-date=June 10, 2016}}</ref>

| launch_date       = October 10, 2024 (planned)<ref name="NASA use commercial">{{Cite web |last=Foust |first=Jeff |date=February 10, 2021 |title=NASA to use commercial launch vehicle for Europa Clipper |url=https://spacenews.com/nasa-to-use-commercial-launch-vehicle-for-europa-clipper/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20210216064656/https://spacenews.com/nasa%2Dto%2Duse%2Dcommercial%2Dlaunch%2Dvehicle%2Dfor%2Deuropa%2Dclipper/ |archive-date=February 16, 2021 |access-date=February 10, 2021 |publisher=SpaceNews}}</ref>
| launch_rocket     = [[Engineering:Falcon Heavy|Falcon Heavy]]<ref name="nasa-202107232">{{Cite press release |title=NASA Awards Launch Services Contract for the Europa Clipper Mission |date=July 23, 2021 |publisher=NASA |url=https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-awards-launch-services-contract-for-europa-clipper-mission |last1=Potter |first1=Sean |access-date=July 23, 2021 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210724020501/https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-awards-launch-services-contract-for-europa-clipper-mission/ |archive-date=July 24, 2021}} {{PD-notice}}</ref> 
| launch_site       = Kennedy Space Center, [[Astronomy:Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A|LC-39A]]
| launch_contractor = [[Company:SpaceX|SpaceX]]

| interplanetary = {{Infobox spaceflight/IP
  | type            = orbiter
  | object          = Jupiter
  | orbits          = 45<ref name="Gov Home About" /><ref>{{Cite press release |title=All Systems Go for NASA's Mission to Jupiter Moon Europa |date=June 17, 2015 |publisher=NASA |url=http://www.nasa.gov/press-release/all-systems-go-for-nasas-mission-to-jupiter-moon-europa |access-date=May 29, 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210311172634/http://www.nasa.gov/press-release/all-systems-go-for-nasas-mission-to-jupiter-moon-europa/ |archive-date=March 11, 2021}} {{PD-notice}}</ref>
  | arrival_date    = April 11, 2030 (planned)
}}
| instruments_list = {{Infobox spaceflight/Instruments
  |acronym1 = [[Engineering:Plasma Instrument for Magnetic Sounding|PIMS]]       | name1 = Plasma Instrument for Magnetic Sounding
  |acronym2 = [[Engineering:Europa Clipper Magnetometer|ECM]]                    | name2 = Europa Clipper Magnetometer
  |acronym3 = [[Engineering:Mapping Imaging Spectrometer for Europa|MISE]]       | name3 = Mapping Imaging Spectrometer for Europa
  |acronym4 = [[Engineering:Europa Imaging System|EIS]]                          | name4 = Europa Imaging System
  |acronym5 = REASON | name5 = Radar for Europa Assessment and Sounding: Ocean to Near-surface
  |acronym6 = [[Engineering:Europa Thermal Emission Imaging System|E-THEMIS]]    | name6 = Europa Thermal Emission Imaging System
  |acronym7 = [[Engineering:Mass Spectrometer for Planetary Exploration|MASPEX]] | name7 = MAss SPectrometer for Planetary EXploration/Europa
  |acronym8 = [[Engineering:Europa Ultraviolet Spectrograph|Europa-UVS]]         | name8 = Europa-Ultraviolet Spectrograph
  |acronym9 = [[Engineering:Surface Dust Analyser|SUDA]]                         | name9 = SUrface Dust Analyzer<ref name="europa.nasa.gov">{{Cite web |last=Thompson |first=Jay R. |date=2022 |title=Instruments |url=https://europa.nasa.gov/mission/science-instruments/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210524211103/https://europa.nasa.gov/mission/science-instruments/ |archive-date=May 24, 2021 |access-date=October 10, 2022 |website=Europa Clipper |publisher=NASA}}{{PD-notice}}</ref>
 }}
| insignia          = Europa Clipper patch.png
| insignia_caption  = Europa Clipper mission patch
| insignia_size     = 220px

| programme         = '''[[Astronomy:Planetary Missions Program Office#Solar System Exploration|Solar System Exploration program]]'''
| previous_mission  = [[Astronomy:Double Asteroid Redirection Test|DART]]
| next_mission      = 
}}
'''Europa Clipper'''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Europa Multiple Flyby Mission |url=http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/profile.cfm?Sort=Target&Target=Jupiter&MCode=EuropaFlyby |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150710110302/http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/profile.cfm?Sort=Target&Target=Jupiter&MCode=EuropaFlyby |archive-date=July 10, 2015 |access-date=July 9, 2015 |website=Solar System Exploration |publisher=NASA}} {{PD-notice}}</ref> (previously known as '''Europa Multiple Flyby Mission''') is an [[Engineering:Interplanetary mission|interplanetary mission]] in development by [[Organization:NASA|NASA]] comprising an [[Engineering:Space probe|orbiter]]. Planned for launch in October 2024, the spacecraft is being developed to study the [[Astronomy:Galilean moons|Galilean moon]] [[Astronomy:Europa (moon)|Europa]] through a series of [[Engineering:Flyby (spaceflight)|flybys]] while in orbit around [[Astronomy:Jupiter|Jupiter]].<ref name="TG-20230305">{{cite news |last=Clark |first=Stuart |title='It's like finding needles in a haystack': the mission to discover if Jupiter's moons support life |url=https://www.theguardian.com/science/2023/mar/05/could-jupiters-icy-moons-support-life |date=5 March 2023 |work={{wipe|The Guardian}} |accessdate=7 March 2023 }}</ref>

This mission is a scheduled flight of the Planetary Science Division, designated a [[Astronomy:Large strategic science missions|Large Strategic Science Mission]], and funded under the [[Astronomy:Planetary Missions Program Office|Planetary Missions Program Office]]'s [[Astronomy:Planetary Missions Program Office|Solar System Exploration program]] as its second flight.<ref name="Flagship">{{Cite web |last1=Wolfe |first1=Alexis |last2=McDonald |first2=Lisa |date=July 21, 2017 |title=Balance of NASA Planetary Science Missions Explored at Hearing |url=https://www.aip.org/fyi/2017/balance-nasa-planetary-science-missions-explored-hearing |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200731023935/https://www.aip.org/fyi/2017/balance-nasa-planetary-science-missions-explored-hearing |archive-date=July 31, 2020 |access-date=May 29, 2019 |publisher=American Institute of Physics}}</ref><ref name="sse">{{Cite web |title=Solar System Exploration Missions List |url=https://planetarymissions.nasa.gov/missions/solar%20system%20exploration |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20180327141053/https://planetarymissions.nasa.gov/missions/solar%20system%20exploration |archive-date=March 27, 2018 |access-date=March 27, 2018 |website=Planetary Missions Program Office (PMPO) |publisher=NASA}} {{PD-notice}}</ref> It is also supported by the new [[Astronomy:Ocean Worlds Exploration Program|Ocean Worlds Exploration Program]].<ref name=OWEP/> ''Europa Clipper'' will perform follow-up studies to those made by the ''[[Engineering:Galileo (spacecraft)|Galileo]]'' spacecraft during its eight years (1995 – 2003) in Jupiter orbit, which indicated the existence of a subsurface ocean underneath Europa's ice [[Earth:Crust (geology)|crust]]. Plans to send a spacecraft to Europa were initially conceived with projects such as ''[[Astronomy:Europa Orbiter|Europa Orbiter]]'' and ''[[Astronomy:Jupiter Icy Moons Orbiter|Jupiter Icy Moons Orbiter]]'', in which a spacecraft would be injected into orbit around Europa. However, due to the adverse effects of [[Physics:Radiation|radiation]] from [[Astronomy:Magnetosphere of Jupiter|Jupiter's magnetosphere]] in Europa orbit, it was decided that it would be safer to inject a spacecraft into an [[Astronomy:Elliptic orbit|elliptical orbit]] around Jupiter and make 44 close flybys of the moon instead. The mission began as a joint investigation between the [[Organization:Jet Propulsion Laboratory|Jet Propulsion Laboratory]] (JPL) and the [[Organization:Applied Physics Laboratory|Applied Physics Laboratory]] (APL), and will be built with a scientific payload of nine instruments contributed by [[Organization:Jet Propulsion Laboratory|JPL]], [[Organization:Applied Physics Laboratory|APL]], [[Organization:Southwest Research Institute|Southwest Research Institute]], [[Organization:University of Texas at Austin|University of Texas at Austin]], [[Organization:Arizona State University|Arizona State University]] and [[Organization:University of Colorado Boulder|University of Colorado Boulder]]. The upcoming mission complements ESA's [[Astronomy:Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer|Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer]] launch in 2023, which will fly-by Europa twice and [[Astronomy:Callisto (moon)|Callisto]] multiple times before moving into orbit around [[Astronomy:Ganymede (moon)|Ganymede]].

The mission is scheduled to launch in October 2024 aboard a [[Engineering:Falcon Heavy|Falcon Heavy]],<ref name="nasa-202107232" /> during a 21-day launch window.<ref name="NASA use commercial" /> The spacecraft will use [[Astronomy:Gravity assist|gravity assist]]s from Mars in February 2025 and Earth in December 2026, before arriving at Europa in April 2030.<ref name="NASA use commercial" />

== History ==
[[File:Repeated Flybys Yield a Pole-to-Pole View of Europa.jpg|thumb|upright=1.0|right|The flybys of Europa by a previous mission collected the data for this mosaic.]]
In 1997, a ''[[Astronomy:Europa Orbiter|Europa Orbiter]]'' mission was proposed by a team for NASA's [[Astronomy:Discovery Program|Discovery program]]<ref name="The Europa Ocean Discovery mission">{{Cite conference |last1=Edwards |first1=Bradley C. |last2=Chyba |first2=Christopher F. |last3=Abshire |first3=James B. |last4=Burns |first4=Joseph A. |last5=Geissler |first5=Paul |last6=Konopliv |first6=Alex S. |last7=Malin |first7=Michael C. |last8=Ostro |first8=Steven J. |last9=Rhodes |first9=Charley |date=July 11, 1997 |title=The Europa Ocean Discovery mission |conference=Proc. SPIE 3111, Instruments, Methods, and Missions for the Investigation of Extraterrestrial Microorganisms |doi=10.1117/12.278778 |first10=Chuck |last10=Rudiger |first11=Xuan-Min |last11=Shao |first12=David E. |last12=Smith |first13=Steven W. |last13=Squyres |first14=Peter C. |last14=Thomas |first15=Chauncey W. |last15=Uphoff |first16=Gerald D. |last16=Walberg |first17=Charles L. |last17=Werner |first18=Charles F. |last18=Yoder |first19=Maria T. |last19=Zuber}}</ref> but was not selected. NASA's JPL announced one month after the selection of Discovery proposals that a NASA Europa orbiter mission would be conducted. JPL then invited the Discovery proposal team to be the Mission Review Committee (MRC).{{citation needed|date=September 2020}}

At the same time as the proposal of the Discovery-class ''Europa Orbiter'', the robotic ''[[Engineering:Galileo (spacecraft)|Galileo]]'' spacecraft was already orbiting Jupiter. From December 8, 1995, to December 7, 1997 ''Galileo'' conducted the primary mission after entering the orbit of Jupiter. On that final date, the Galileo orbiter commenced an extended mission known as the ''Galileo'' Europa Mission (GEM), which ran until December 31, 1999. This was a low-cost mission extension, with a budget of only US$30 million. The smaller team of about 40–50 people (one-fifth the size of the primary mission's 200-person team from 1995–1997) did not have the resources to deal with problems, but when they arose it was able to temporarily recall former team members (called "tiger teams") for intensive efforts to solve them. The spacecraft made several flybys of [[Astronomy:Europa (moon)|Europa]] (8), [[Astronomy:Callisto (moon)|Callisto]] (4) and [[Astronomy:Io (moon)|Io]] (2). On each flyby of the three moons it encountered, the spacecraft collected only two days' worth of data instead of the seven it had collected during the primary mission. This ''Galileo'' Europa Mission was similar to a small-scale version of what the ''Europa Clipper'' is planning to accomplish. GEM included eight flybys of Europa, ranging from {{cvt|196|to|3582|km}}, in two years.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Meltzer |first=Michael |url=https://history.nasa.gov/SP-4231/sp4231.pdf |title=Mission to Jupiter: A History of the ''Galileo'' Project |publisher=NASA |year=2007 |series=The NASA History Series |oclc=124150579 |id=SP-4231 |access-date=December 4, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201128052208/https://history.nasa.gov/SP-4231/sp4231.pdf |archive-date=November 28, 2020 |url-status=live}} {{PD-notice}}</ref>

Europa has been identified as one of the locations in the [[Astronomy:Solar System|Solar System]] that could possibly harbor microbial [[Astronomy:Extraterrestrial life|extraterrestrial life]].<ref name="Europa a must">{{Cite news |last=Dreier |first=Casey |date=December 12, 2013 |title=Europa: No Longer a "Should," But a "Must" |publisher=The Planetary Society |url=http://www.planetary.org/blogs/casey-dreier/2013/1212-europa-no-longer-a-should-but-a-must.html |url-status=live |access-date=December 13, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190908093842/http://www.planetary.org/blogs/casey-dreier/2013/1212-europa-no-longer-a-should-but-a-must.html |archive-date=September 8, 2019}}</ref><ref name="Schulze-Makuch2001">{{Cite web |last1=Schulze-Makuch |first1=Dirk |last2=Irwin |first2=Louis N. |year=2001 |title=Alternative Energy Sources Could Support Life on Europa |url=http://www.geo.utep.edu/pub/dirksm/geobiowater/pdf/EOS27March2001.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060703033956/http://www.geo.utep.edu/pub/dirksm/geobiowater/pdf/EOS27March2001.pdf |archive-date=July 3, 2006 |website=Departments of Geological and Biological Sciences |publisher=University of Texas at El Paso}}</ref><ref name="zab">{{Cite news |last=Zabarenko |first=Deborah |date=March 7, 2011 |title=Lean U.S. missions to Mars, Jupiter moon recommended |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-space-usa-future-idUSTRE7266XJ20110308 |url-status=live |access-date=July 5, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200907012354/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-space-usa-future-idUSTRE7266XJ20110308 |archive-date=September 7, 2020}}</ref> Immediately following the [[Engineering:Galileo (spacecraft)|''Galileo'']] spacecraft's discoveries and the independent Discovery program proposal for a Europa orbiter, JPL conducted preliminary mission studies that envisioned a capable spacecraft such as the [[Astronomy:Jupiter Icy Moons Orbiter|Jupiter Icy Moons Orbiter]] (a US$16 billion mission concept),<ref>{{Cite web |date=2005 |title=Project Prometheus final report – page 178 |url=http://trs-new.jpl.nasa.gov/dspace/bitstream/2014/38185/1/05-3441.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304221142/http://trs-new.jpl.nasa.gov/dspace/bitstream/2014/38185/1/05-3441.pdf |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |access-date=January 20, 2015}} {{PD-notice}}</ref> the [[Astronomy:Jupiter Europa Orbiter|Jupiter Europa Orbiter]] (a US$4.3 billion concept), another orbiter (US$2 billion concept), and a multi-flyby spacecraft: ''Europa Clipper''.<ref name="Kane 2014" />

A mission to Europa was recommended by the National Research Council in 2013.<ref name="Europa a must" /><ref name="zab" /> The approximate cost estimate rose from US$2 billion in 2013 to US$4.25 billion in 2020.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://spacenews.com/europa-clipper-passes-key-review/|title=Europa Clipper passes key review|author=Jeff Foust|date=August 22, 2019|publisher=Space News|access-date=July 4, 2023}}</ref><ref>[https://www.space.com/nasa-europa-mission-alien-life.html NASA Europa Mission Could Potentially Spot Signs of Alien Life] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126130808/https://www.space.com/nasa-europa-mission-alien-life.html |date=January 26, 2021 }}, Mike Wall, ''Space.com'', October 26, 2019</ref> The mission is a joint project between the [[Organization:Johns Hopkins University|Johns Hopkins University]]'s [[Organization:Applied Physics Laboratory|Applied Physics Laboratory]] (APL), and the [[Organization:Jet Propulsion Laboratory|Jet Propulsion Laboratory]] (JPL).<ref name="Leone" /><ref name="OPAG Update 2013">{{Cite conference |last1=Pappalardo |first1=Robert |last2=Cooke |first2=Brian |last3=Goldstein |first3=Barry |last4=Prockter |first4=Louise |last5=Senske |first5=Dave |last6=Magner |first6=Tom |date=July 2013 |title=OPAG Update |publisher=Lunar and Planetary Institute |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125054349/https://www.lpi.usra.edu/opag/jul2013/presentations/Clipper_Summary.pdf |archive-date=January 25, 2021 |access-date=December 13, 2013 |contribution=The Europa Clipper |contribution-url=http://www.lpi.usra.edu/opag/jul2013/presentations/Clipper_Summary.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref> The mission's name is a reference to the lightweight [[Engineering:Clipper|clipper ships]] of the 19th century that routinely plied trade routes around the world.<ref name="Clipper name">{{Cite web |last=Dyches |first=Preston |date=March 9, 2017 |title=NASA Mission Named 'Europa Clipper' |url=https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?feature=6772 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201202164049/https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?feature=6772 |archive-date=December 2, 2020 |access-date=October 28, 2017 |publisher=JPL (NASA)}} {{PD-notice}}</ref> The moniker was chosen because the spacecraft will "sail" past Europa, as frequently as every two weeks.<ref name="Clipper name" />

In March 2013, US$75 million were authorized to expand on the formulation of mission activities, mature the proposed science goals, and fund preliminary instrument development,<ref name="Europa SETI">{{Cite news |date=March 29, 2013 |title=Destination: Europa |publisher=Europa SETI |url=http://europa.seti.org/one-small-step-for-a-mission/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140823091007/http://europa.seti.org/one-small-step-for-a-mission/ |archive-date=August 23, 2014}}</ref> as suggested in 2011 by the [[Astronomy:Planetary Science Decadal Survey|Planetary Science Decadal Survey]].<ref name="Leone">{{Cite news |last=Leone |first=Dan |date=July 22, 2013 |title=NASA's Europa Mission Concept Progresses on the Back Burner |publisher=SpaceNews |url=http://spacenews.com/36388nasas-europa-mission-concept-progresses-on-the-back-burner/ |url-status=live |access-date=January 5, 2016 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20160222162720/http://spacenews.com/36388nasas-europa-mission-concept-progresses-on-the-back-burner/ |archive-date=February 22, 2016}}</ref><ref name="zab" /> In May 2014, a House bill substantially increased the ''Europa Clipper'' (referred to as ''Europa Multiple Flyby Mission'') funding budget for the 2014 fiscal year from US$15 million<ref name="March 2014">{{Cite news |last=Wall |first=Mike |date=March 5, 2014 |title=NASA Eyes Ambitious Mission to Jupiter's Icy Moon Europa by 2025 |publisher=Space.com |url=http://www.space.com/24926-nasa-europa-mission-2015-budget.html |url-status=live |access-date=April 15, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180908194715/https://www.space.com/24926-nasa-europa-mission-2015-budget.html |archive-date=September 8, 2018}}</ref><ref name="Clark 2014">{{Cite news |last=Clark |first=Stephen |date=March 14, 2014 |title=Economics, water plumes to drive Europa mission study |publisher=Spaceflight Now |url=http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n1403/14europa/ |url-status=live |access-date=April 15, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140416182657/http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n1403/14europa/ |archive-date=April 16, 2014}}</ref> to US$100 million to be applied to pre-formulation work.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Zezima |first=Katie |date=May 8, 2014 |title=House gives NASA more money to explore planets |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2014/05/08/house-gives-nasa-more-money-to-explore-planets/ |url-status=live |access-date=May 9, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150513200006/http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2014/05/08/house-gives-nasa-more-money-to-explore-planets/ |archive-date=May 13, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Morin |first=Monte |date=May 8, 2014 |title=US$17.9-billion funding plan for NASA would boost planetary science |work=Los Angeles Times |url=http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-nasa-house-appropriations-committee-20140507-story.html |url-status=live |access-date=May 9, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112025606/https://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-nasa-house-appropriations-committee-20140507-story.html |archive-date=November 12, 2020}}</ref> Following the 2014 election cycle, bipartisan support was pledged to continue funding for the ''Europa Multiple Flyby Mission'' project.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nola Taylor Redd |date=November 5, 2014 |title=To Europa! Mission to Jupiter's Moon Gains Support in Congress |url=http://www.space.com/27660-jupiter-moon-europa-exploration-congress.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201127084926/https://www.space.com/27660-jupiter-moon-europa-exploration-congress.html |archive-date=November 27, 2020 |access-date=November 6, 2014 |publisher=Space.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Dreier |first=Casey |date=February 3, 2015 |title=It's Official: We're On the Way to Europa |url=http://www.planetary.org/blogs/casey-dreier/2015/0202-its-official-we-are-on-the-way-to-europa-fy2016.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200111202738/https://www.planetary.org/blogs/casey-dreier/2015/0202-its-official-we-are-on-the-way-to-europa-fy2016.html |archive-date=January 11, 2020 |access-date=February 8, 2015 |publisher=The Planetary Society}}</ref> The executive branch also granted US$30 million for preliminary studies.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kane |first=Van |date=February 3, 2015 |title=2016 Budget: Great Policy Document and A Much Better Budget |url=http://futureplanets.blogspot.com/2015/02/2016-budget-great-policy-document-and.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108093519/http://futureplanets.blogspot.com/2015/02/2016-budget-great-policy-document-and.html |archive-date=November 8, 2020 |access-date=February 8, 2015 |publisher=Future Planetary Exploration}}</ref><ref name="Clark2015">{{Cite news |last=Clark |first=Stephen |date=March 10, 2015 |title=Europa Multiple Flyby Mission concept team aims for launch in 2022 |publisher=Spaceflight Now |url=http://spaceflightnow.com/2015/03/10/europa-clipper-concept-team-aims-for-launch-in-2022/ |url-status=live |access-date=April 9, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160808162453/https://spaceflightnow.com/2015/03/10/europa-clipper-concept-team-aims-for-launch-in-2022/ |archive-date=August 8, 2016}}</ref>

In April 2015, NASA offered to the [[Organization:European Space Agency|European Space Agency]] to submit concepts for an additional probe to fly together with the ''Europa Clipper'' spacecraft, with a mass limit of 250&nbsp;kg maximum.<ref name="Benedetto 2016">{{Cite conference |last1=Di Benedetto |first1=Mauro |last2=Imperia |first2=Luigi |last3=Durantea |first3=Daniele |last4=Dougherty |first4=Michele |last5=Iessa |first5=Luciano |date=September 26–30, 2016 |title=Augmenting NASA Europa Clipper by a small probe: Europa Tomography Probe (ETP) mission concept |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/309320752 |conference=67th International Astronautical Congress (IAC)}}</ref> It could be a simple probe, an impactor,<ref>[http://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU2016/EGU2016-16887.pdf Akon – A Penetrator for Europa] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200805225943/http://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU2016/EGU2016-16887.pdf |date=August 5, 2020 }}, Geraint Jones, Geophysical Research Abstracts, Vol. 18, EGU2016-16887, 2016, EGU General Assembly 2016</ref> or a lander.<ref name="Clark 2015">{{Cite news |last=Clark |first=Stephen |date=April 10, 2015 |title=NASA invites ESA to build Europa piggyback probe |publisher=Spaceflight Now |url=http://spaceflightnow.com/2015/04/10/nasa-invites-esa-to-build-europa-piggyback-probe/ |url-status=live |access-date=April 17, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201204090151/https://spaceflightnow.com/2015/04/10/nasa-invites-esa-to-build-europa-piggyback-probe/ |archive-date=December 4, 2020}}</ref> An internal assessment at [[Organization:European Space Agency|European Space Agency]] (ESA) is underway to see if there is interest and funds available,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Amos |first=Jonathan |date=April 19, 2016 |title=European scientists set eyes on ice moon Europa |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-36079069 |url-status=live |access-date=April 19, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108124630/https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-36079069 |archive-date=November 8, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Blanc |first1=Michel |last2=Jones |first2=Geraint H. |last3=Prieto-Ballesteros |first3=Olga |last4=Sterken |first4=Veerle J. |year=2016 |title=The Europa initiative for ESA's cosmic vision: a potential European contribution to NASA's Europa mission |url=http://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU2016/EGU2016-16378.pdf |url-status=live |journal=Geophysical Research Abstracts |volume=18 |pages=EPSC2016-16378 |bibcode=2016EGUGA..1816378B |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806021822/https://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU2016/EGU2016-16378.pdf |archive-date=August 6, 2020 |access-date=September 29, 2016}}</ref><ref name="researchIT">{{Cite web |date=May 16, 2017 |title=Joint Europa Mission: ESA and NASA together towards Jupiter icy moon |url=https://www.researchitaly.it/en/projects/joint-europa-mission-esa-and-nasa-together-towards-jupiter-icy-moon/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200731031542/https://www.researchitaly.it/en/projects/joint-europa-mission-esa-and-nasa-together-towards-jupiter-icy-moon/ |archive-date=July 31, 2020 |access-date=May 29, 2019 |publisher=Research Italy}}</ref><ref name="JEM2017">[http://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU2017/EGU2017-12931.pdf Joint Europa Mission (JEM): A multi-scale study of Europa to characterize its habitability and search for life] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200805204336/http://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU2017/EGU2017-12931.pdf |date=August 5, 2020 }}, Michel Blanc, Olga Prieto Ballesteros, Nicolas Andre, and John F. Cooper, Geophysical Research Abstracts, Vol. 19, EGU2017-12931, 2017, EGU General Assembly 2017</ref> opening a collaboration scheme similar to the very successful ''Cassini-Huygens'' approach.<ref name="JEM2017" /> In May 2015, NASA chose nine instruments that would fly on board the orbiter, budgeted to cost about US$110 million over the next three years.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Klotz |first=Irene |date=May 26, 2015 |title=NASA's Europa Mission Will Look for Life's Ingredients |work=Gazette Herald |url=http://www.gazetteherald.com/nasas-europa-mission-will-look-for-lifes-ingredients/113901/ |access-date=January 30, 2021 }}</ref> In June 2015, NASA approved the mission concept, allowing the orbiter to move to its formulation stage,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Howell |first=Elizabeth |date=June 20, 2015 |title=NASA's Europa Mission Approved for Next Development Stage |publisher=Space.com |url=http://www.space.com/29713-europa-mission-approved-for-development.html |url-status=live |access-date=June 20, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180813111636/https://www.space.com/29713-europa-mission-approved-for-development.html |archive-date=August 13, 2018}}</ref> and in January 2016 it approved a lander as well.<ref name="2016 Funds">{{Cite news |last=Kornfeld |first=Laurel |date=January 4, 2016 |title=Additional US$1.3 billion for NASA to fund next Mars rover, Europa mission |publisher=The Space Reporter |url=https://thespacereporter.com/2016/01/additional-1-3-billion-nasa-fund-next-mars-rover-europa-mission/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160118071957/https://thespacereporter.com/2016/01/additional-1-3-billion-nasa-fund-next-mars-rover-europa-mission/ |archive-date=January 18, 2016}}</ref><ref name="Lander funding">{{Cite news |last=Kane |first=Van |date=January 5, 2016 |title=A Lander for NASA's Europa Mission |publisher=The Planetary Society |url=http://www.planetary.org/blogs/guest-blogs/van-kane/20160105-nasa-europa-lander.html |url-status=live |access-date=January 5, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160108004658/http://www.planetary.org/blogs/guest-blogs/van-kane/20160105-nasa-europa-lander.html |archive-date=January 8, 2016}}</ref> In May 2016, the [[Astronomy:Ocean Worlds Exploration Program|Ocean Worlds Exploration Program]] was approved,<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 28, 2016 |title=NASA'S FY2017 BUDGET REQUEST – Status at the End of the 114th Congress |url=http://www.spacepolicyonline.com/pages/images/stories/NASA%20FY2017%20budget%20request%20Dec%2028%202016.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200805084147/https://www.spacepolicyonline.com/pages/images/stories/NASA%20FY2017%20budget%20request%20Dec%2028%202016.pdf |archive-date=August 5, 2020 |access-date=September 29, 2017 |website=spacepolicyonline.com}}</ref> of which the Europa mission is part.<ref name="OWEP">{{Cite web |date=May 27, 2015 |title=NASA'S FY2016 BUDGET REQUEST – Overview |url=https://spacepolicyonline.com/pages/images/stories/NASA%20FY2016%20budget%20request%20may%2027.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200731045549/https://spacepolicyonline.com/pages/images/stories/NASA%20FY2016%20budget%20request%20may%2027.pdf |archive-date=July 31, 2020 |access-date=May 29, 2019 |website=spacepolicyonline.com}}</ref> 

In February 2017, the mission moved from Phase A to Phase B (the preliminary design phase).<ref name="Greicius">{{Cite news |last=Greicius |first=Tony |date=February 21, 2017 |title=NASA's Europa Flyby Mission Moves into Design Phase |publisher=NASA |url=https://www.nasa.gov/feature/jpl/nasas-europa-flyby-mission-moves-into-design-phase |url-status=live |access-date=February 22, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112040348/https://www.nasa.gov/feature/jpl/nasas-europa-flyby-mission-moves-into-design-phase/ |archive-date=November 12, 2020}} {{PD-notice}}</ref> On July 18, 2017, the House Space Subcommittee held hearings on the ''Europa Clipper'' as a scheduled [[Astronomy:Large Strategic Science Missions|Large Strategic Science Missions]] class, and to discuss a possible follow up mission simply known as the [[Astronomy:Europa Lander (NASA)|Europa Lander]].<ref name="Flagship" /> Phase B continued into 2019.<ref name="Greicius" /> In addition, subsystem vendors were selected, as well as prototype hardware elements for the science instruments. Spacecraft sub-assemblies will be built and tested as well.<ref name="Greicius" /> 

===Fabrication and assembly===
On August 19, 2019, the ''Europa Clipper'' proceeded to Phase C: final design and fabrication.<ref name="NASA-20190819">{{Cite news |last1=McCartney |first1=Gretchen |last2=Johnson |first2=Alana |date=August 19, 2019 |title=Mission to Jupiter's Icy Moon Confirmed |publisher=NASA |url=https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?feature=7480 |url-status=live |access-date=August 20, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201130045118/https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?feature=7480 |archive-date=November 30, 2020}} {{PD-notice}}</ref> 

On March 3, 2022, the spacecraft moved on to Phase D: assembly, testing, and launch.<ref name="NASA-20220303">{{Cite news |last1=McCartney |first1=Gretchen |last2=Johnson |first2=Alana |date=March 3, 2022 |title=NASA Begins Assembly of Europa Clipper Spacecraft |publisher=NASA |url=https://europa.nasa.gov/news/46/nasa-begins-assembly-of-europa-clipper-spacecraft/ |url-status=live |access-date=March 10, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220311032733/https://europa.nasa.gov/news/46/nasa-begins-assembly-of-europa-clipper-spacecraft/ |archive-date=March 11, 2022}} {{PD-notice}}</ref>

On June 7, 2022, the main body of the spacecraft was completed.<ref name="NASA-20220607">{{Cite news |last1=McCartney |first1=Gretchen |last2=Johnson |first2=Alana |date=June 7, 2022 |title=NASA's Europa Clipper Mission Completes Main Body of the Spacecraft |publisher=NASA |url=https://europa.nasa.gov/news/51/nasas-europa-clipper-mission-completes-main-body-of-the-spacecraft/ |url-status=live |access-date=June 24, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220618194107/https://europa.nasa.gov/news/51/nasas-europa-clipper-mission-completes-main-body-of-the-spacecraft/ |archive-date=June 18, 2022}} {{PD-notice}}</ref>

By January 30, 2024, all of the science instruments have been added to the spacecraft (The REASON instrument's electronics are aboard the spacecraft, while its antennas will be mounted to the spacecraft’s solar arrays at Kennedy Space Center later in the year.)<ref name="NASA-20240130">{{Cite news |last1=McCartney |first1=Gretchen |last2=Fox |first2=Karen |last3=Johnson |first3=Alana |date=January 30, 2024 |title=Poised for Science: NASA's Europa Clipper Instruments Are All Aboard |publisher=NASA |url=https://europa.nasa.gov/news/99/poised-for-science-nasas-europa-clipper-instruments-are-all-aboard/ |url-status=live |access-date=January 30, 2024}} {{PD-notice}}</ref>

== Objectives ==
[[File:Photo composite of suspected water plumes on Europa.jpg|thumb|upright=1.0|right|The photo composite of suspected water plumes on Europa]]
[[File:EuropaClipper.jpg|thumb|upright=1.0|right|The concept to achieve global-regional coverage of Europa during successive flybys]]

The goals of ''Europa Clipper'' are to explore Europa, investigate its [[Astronomy:Habitability of natural satellites|habitability]] and aid in the selection of a landing site for the future [[Astronomy:Europa Lander (NASA)|Europa Lander]].<ref name="Lander funding" /><ref name="Europa Lander 2013">{{Cite journal |last1=Pappalardo |first1=Robert T. |last2=Vance |first2=S. |last3=Bagenal |first3=F. |last4=Bills |first4=B.G. |last5=Blaney |first5=D.L. |last6=Blankenship |first6=D.D. |last7=Brinckerhoff |first7=W.B. |last8=Connerney |first8=J.E.P. |last9=Hand |first9=K.P. |last10=Hoehler |first10=T.M. |last11=Leisner |first11=J.S. |last12=Kurth |first12=W.S. |last13=McGrath |first13=M.A. |last14=Mellon |first14=M.T. |last15=Moore |first15=J.M. |year=2013 |title=Science Potential from a Europa Lander |url=https://dspace.mit.edu/bitstream/1721.1/81431/2/Pappalardo_Science-potential.pdf |url-status=live |journal=Astrobiology |volume=13 |issue=8 |pages=740–73 |bibcode=2013AsBio..13..740P |doi=10.1089/ast.2013.1003 |pmid=23924246 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221010134353/https://dspace.mit.edu/bitstream/handle/1721.1/81431/Pappalardo_Science-potential.pdf;jsessionid=FC7BE20FBB7C0C9AA9F45BDF32F8E03D?sequence=2 |archive-date=October 10, 2022 |access-date=October 1, 2019 |hdl-access=free |last16=Patterson |first16=G.W. |last17=Prockter |first17=L.M. |last18=Senske |first18=D.A. |last19=Schmidt |first19=B.E. |last20=Shock |first20=E.L. |last21=Smith |first21=D.E. |last22=Soderlund |first22=K.M. |hdl=1721.1/81431 |s2cid=10522270}}</ref> This exploration is focused on understanding the three main requirements for life: [[Chemistry:Water|liquid water]], [[Chemistry:Chemistry|chemistry]], and [[Physics:Energy|energy]].<ref name="ASC 2017">{{Cite conference |last1=Bayer |first1=Todd |last2=Buffington |first2=Brent |last3=Castet |first3=Jean-Francois |last4=Jackson |first4=Maddalena |last5=Lee |first5=Gene |last6=Lewis |first6=Kari |last7=Kastner |first7=Jason |last8=Schimmels |first8=Kathy |last9=Kirby |first9=Karen |date=March 4, 2017 |title=2017 IEEE Aerospace Conference |conference=2017 IEEE Aerospace Conference |location=Big Sky, Montana |pages=1–12 |doi=10.1109/AERO.2017.7943832 |isbn=978-1-5090-1613-6 |chapter=Europa mission update: Beyond payload selection}}</ref> Specifically, the objectives are to study:<ref name="OPAG Update 2013" />

* Ice shell and ocean: Confirm the existence, and characterize the nature, of water within or beneath the ice, and processes of surface-ice-ocean exchange
* Composition: Distribution and chemistry of key compounds and the links to ocean composition
* Geology: Characteristics and formation of surface features, including sites of recent or current activity.

=== Strategy ===
[[File:Europa_Clipper_Radiation.png|thumb|upright=1.1|left|A wide orbit of Jupiter with several flybys of Europa will minimize radiation exposure and increase data transfer speed.]]

Because Europa lies well within the harsh radiation fields surrounding Jupiter, even a radiation-hardened spacecraft in near orbit would be functional for just a few months.<ref name="Kane 2014">{{Cite news |last=Kane |first=Van |date=August 26, 2014 |title=Europa: How Less Can Be More |publisher=Planetary Society |url=http://www.planetary.org/blogs/guest-blogs/van-kane/20140826-europa-how-less-can-be-more.html |url-status=live |access-date=August 29, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191117080735/https://www.planetary.org/blogs/guest-blogs/van-kane/20140826-europa-how-less-can-be-more.html |archive-date=November 17, 2019}}</ref> Most instruments can gather data far faster than the communications system can transmit it to Earth because there are a limited number of antennas available on Earth to receive the scientific data.<ref name="Kane 2014" /> Therefore, another key limiting factor on science for a Europa orbiter is the time available to return data to Earth. In contrast, the amount of time during which the instruments can make close-up observations is less important.<ref name="Kane 2014" />

Studies by scientists from the [[Organization:Jet Propulsion Laboratory|Jet Propulsion Laboratory]] show that by performing several flybys with many months to return data, the ''Europa Clipper'' concept will enable a US$2 billion mission to conduct the most crucial measurements of the cancelled US$4.3 billion [[Astronomy:Jupiter Europa Orbiter|Jupiter Europa Orbiter]] concept.<ref name="Kane 2014" /> Between each of the flybys, the spacecraft will have seven to ten days to transmit data stored during each brief encounter. That will let the spacecraft have up to a year of time to transmit its data compared to just 30 days for an orbiter. The result will be almost three times as much data returned to [[Astronomy:Earth|Earth]], while reducing exposure to radiation.<ref name="Kane 2014" /> The ''Europa Clipper'' will not orbit Europa, but instead orbit [[Astronomy:Jupiter|Jupiter]] and conduct 44 [[Engineering:List of planetary flybys|flyby]]s of Europa at altitudes from {{cvt|25|to|2700|km}} each during its 3.5-year mission.<ref name="Gov Home About" /><ref name="Phillips 2014">{{Cite journal |last1=Phillips |first1=Cynthia B. |last2=Pappalardo |first2=Robert T. |date=May 20, 2014 |title=Europa Clipper Mission Concept |journal=Eos Transactions |publisher=Eos Transactions American Geophysical Union |volume=95 |issue=20 |pages=165–167 |bibcode=2014EOSTr..95..165P |doi=10.1002/2014EO200002 |doi-access=free}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Europa Clipper |url=https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/europa-clipper/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210323162742/https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/europa-clipper |archive-date=March 23, 2021 |access-date=January 2, 2019 |publisher=NASA (JPL)}} {{PD-notice}}</ref> A key feature of the mission concept is that the ''Clipper'' would use [[Astronomy:Gravity assist|gravity assist]]s from [[Astronomy:Europa (moon)|Europa]], [[Astronomy:Ganymede (moon)|Ganymede]] and [[Astronomy:Callisto (moon)|Callisto]] to change its trajectory, allowing the spacecraft to return to a different close approach point with each flyby.<ref>[http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/2014EO200002/pdf Europa Clipper Mission Concept: Exploring Jupiter's Ocean Moon] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140819222413/http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/2014EO200002/pdf |date=August 19, 2014 }}, [[Biography:Cynthia B. Phillips|Cynthia B. Phillips]], and Robert T. Pappalardo. ''Eos, Transactions American Geophysical Union'', Volume 95, Issue 20, May 20, 2014</ref> Each flyby would cover a different sector of Europa in order to achieve a medium-quality global topographic survey, including ice thickness.<ref name="FPE">{{Cite news |last=Kane |first=Van |date=May 26, 2013 |title=Europa Clipper Update |publisher=Future Planetary Exploration |url=http://futureplanets.blogspot.com/2013/05/europa-clipper-update.html |url-status=live |access-date=December 13, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210204070619/http://futureplanets.blogspot.com/2013/05/europa-clipper-update.html |archive-date=February 4, 2021}}</ref> The ''Europa Clipper'' could conceivably flyby at low altitude through the plumes of water vapor erupting from the moon's ice crust, thus sampling its subsurface ocean without having to land on the surface and drill through the ice.<ref name="March 2014" /><ref name="Clark 2014" />

Shielding from Jupiter's harsh radiation belt will be provided by a radiation vault with {{convert|0.3|in|mm}} thick aluminum alloy walls, which will enclose the spacecraft electronics.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Meet Europa Clipper |url=https://europa.nasa.gov/spacecraft/meet-europa-clipper/ |access-date=November 11, 2022 |publisher=NASA}}</ref> To maximize the effectiveness of this shielding, the electronics will also be nested in the core of the spacecraft for additional radiation protection.<ref name="FPE" />

== Design and construction ==
[[File:Europa Clipper spacecraft best 140912jpg.jpg|thumb|upright=1.0|right|The spacecraft will make close flybys of Jupiter's moon, Europa.]]
[[File:Magnetic Field of the Europa Clipper Spacecraft.gif|thumb|upright=1.0|right|Magnetic field of the Europa Clipper spacecraft]]

=== Power ===
Both [[Physics:Radioisotope thermoelectric generator|radioisotope thermoelectric generator]] (RTG) and [[Chemistry:Photovoltaics|photovoltaic]] power sources were assessed to power the orbiter.<ref name="Eremenko2014">A. Eremenko ''et al.'', "Europa Clipper spacecraft configuration evolution", ''2014 IEEE Aerospace Conference'', pp. 1–13, Big Sky, MT, March 1–8, 2014</ref> Although solar power is only 4% as intense at Jupiter as it is in Earth's orbit, powering a Jupiter orbital spacecraft by [[Physics:Solar panels on spacecraft|solar panels]] was demonstrated by the [[Engineering:Juno (spacecraft)|''Juno'' mission]]. The alternative to solar panels was a [[Astronomy:Multi-mission radioisotope thermoelectric generator|multi-mission radioisotope thermoelectric generator]] (MMRTG), fueled with [[Physics:Plutonium-238|plutonium-238]].<ref name="Phillips 2014" /><ref name="FPE" /> The power source has already been demonstrated in the [[Organization:Mars Science Laboratory|Mars Science Laboratory]] (MSL) mission. Five units were available, with one reserved for the Mars 2020 rover mission and another as backup. In September 2013, it was decided that the solar array was the less expensive option to power the spacecraft, and on October 3, 2014, it was announced that solar panels were chosen to power ''Europa Clipper''. The mission's designers determined that solar power was both cheaper than plutonium and practical to use on the spacecraft.<ref name="Eremenko2014" /> Despite the increased weight of solar panels compared to plutonium-powered generators, the vehicle's mass had been projected to still be within acceptable launch limits.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Foust |first=Jeff |date=October 8, 2014 |title=Europa Clipper Opts for Solar Power over Nuclear |url=http://spacenews.com/42121europa-clipper-opts-for-solar-power-over-nuclear/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20150209194443/http://spacenews.com/42121europa-clipper-opts-for-solar-power-over-nuclear/ |archive-date=February 9, 2015 |access-date=February 8, 2015 |publisher=SpaceNews}}</ref>

Initial analysis suggest that each panel will have a surface area of {{cvt|18|sqm}} and produce 150 watts continuously when pointed towards the Sun while orbiting Jupiter.<ref name="Solar panels">{{Cite news |last=Dreier |first=Casey |date=September 5, 2013 |title=NASA's Europa Mission Concept Rejects ASRGs – May Use Solar Panels at Jupiter Instead |publisher=The Planetary Society |url=http://www.planetary.org/blogs/casey-dreier/2013/20130905-no-asrgs-for-europa.html |url-status=live |access-date=December 13, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180710011405/http://www.planetary.org/blogs/casey-dreier/2013/20130905-no-asrgs-for-europa.html |archive-date=July 10, 2018}}</ref> While in Europa's shadow, batteries will enable the spacecraft to continue gathering data. However, [[Physics:Ionizing radiation|ionizing radiation]] can damage solar panels. The ''Europa Clipper''{{'s}} orbit will pass through Jupiter's intense magnetosphere, which is expected to gradually degrade the solar panels as the mission progresses.<ref name="FPE" /> The solar panels will be provided by [[Company:Airbus Defence and Space|Airbus Defence and Space]], Netherlands.<ref name="SextantMarch2018-Highlights">{{Cite magazine |date=March 2018 |title=Spacecraft Highlights |url=https://europa.nasa.gov/system/internal_resources/details/original/116_Europa-Clipper-Newsletter-External-vol2issue1_FINAL.pdf |url-status=live |magazine=The Sextant – Europa Clipper Newsletter |publisher=Jet Propulsion Laboratory |volume=2 |issue=1 |page=3 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221010134354/https://europa.nasa.gov/system/internal_resources/details/original/116_Europa-Clipper-Newsletter-External-vol2issue1_FINAL.pdf |archive-date=October 10, 2022 |access-date=September 20, 2018}} {{PD-notice}}</ref>

=== Scientific payload ===
The ''Europa Clipper'' mission is equipped with a sophisticated suite of 9 instruments to study Europa's interior and [[Earth:Ocean|ocean]], [[Earth:Geology|geology]], [[Chemistry:Chemistry|chemistry]], and [[Social:Habitability|habitability]]. The electronic components will be protected from the intense radiation by a 150-kilogram [[Chemistry:Titanium|titanium]] and aluminum shield.<ref name="Gov Home About" /><ref name="FPE" /> The spacecraft payload and trajectory are subject to change as the mission design matures.<ref name="BEE 2016">{{Cite conference |last1=Amato |first1=Michael J. |last2=Spidaliere |first2=P. |last3=Mahaffy |first3=P. |year=2016 |title=Biosignature Explorer for Europa (BEE) Probe – The Concept for Directly Searching for Life Evidence on Europa at Lower Cost and Risk |url=http://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2016/pdf/2602.pdf |conference=47th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170122232905/http://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2016/pdf/2602.pdf |archive-date=January 22, 2017 |access-date=September 28, 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> The nine science instruments for the orbiter, announced in May 2015, have an estimated total mass of {{cvt|82|kg}} and are listed below:<ref name="Instruments">{{Cite news |date=May 26, 2015 |title=NASA's Europa Mission Begins with Selection of Science Instruments |publisher=NASA (JPL) |url=http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?feature=4598 |url-status=live |access-date=May 27, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200926192203/https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?feature=4598 |archive-date=September 26, 2020}} {{PD-notice}}</ref>

==== Europa Thermal Emission Imaging System (E-THEMIS) ====
The [[Engineering:Europa Thermal Emission Imaging System|Europa Thermal Emission Imaging System]] will provide high spatial resolution as well as multi-spectral imaging of the surface of Europa in the [[Physics:Infrared|mid]] to [[Physics:Far infrared|far infrared]] bands to help detect geologically active sites and areas, such as potential vents erupting plumes of water into space. This instrument is derived from the [[Engineering:Thermal Emission Imaging System|Thermal Emission Imaging System]] (THEMIS) on the ''[[Astronomy:2001 Mars Odyssey|2001 Mars Odyssey]]'' orbiter, also developed by Philip Christensen.<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 25, 2019 |title=E-THEMIS {{!}} Christensen Research Group |url=http://christensen.asu.edu/instrument/e-themis/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221010134358/https://christensen.asu.edu/instrument/e-themis/ |archive-date=October 10, 2022 |access-date=May 14, 2021 |website=Christensen Research Group |publisher=[[Organization:Arizona State University|Arizona State University]]}}</ref>

* {{small|'''Principal investigator:''' Philip Christensen, [[Organization:Arizona State University|Arizona State University]]}}

==== Mapping Imaging Spectrometer for Europa (MISE) ====
The [[Engineering:Mapping Imaging Spectrometer for Europa|Mapping Imaging Spectrometer for Europa]] is an imaging [[Physics:Infrared spectroscopy|near infrared spectrometer]] to probe the surface composition of Europa, identifying and mapping the distributions of [[Chemistry:Organic compound|organics]] (including [[Chemistry:Amino acid|amino acid]]s and [[Astronomy:Tholin|tholin]]s<ref name="amino acids">[http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2017AAS...22913804W MISE: A Search for Organics on Europa] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181116052227/http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2017AAS...22913804W |date=November 16, 2018 }}, Whalen, Kelly; Lunine, Jonathan I.; Blaney, Diana L.; ''American Astronomical Society'', AAS Meeting #229, id.138.04, January 2017</ref><ref name="JPL2015">{{Cite news |date=May 27, 2015 |title=Europa Mission to Probe Magnetic Field and Chemistry |publisher=Jet Propulsion Laboratory |url=http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?feature=4602 |url-status=live |access-date=October 23, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201202163713/https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?feature=4602 |archive-date=December 2, 2020}} {{PD-notice}}</ref>), salts, acid hydrates, water ice phases, and other materials. From these measurements, scientists expect to be able to relate the moon's surface composition to the habitability of its ocean.<ref name="JPL2015" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Blaney |first=Diana L. |date=2010 |title=Europa Composition Using Visible to Short Wavelength Infrared Spectroscopy |work=JPL |publisher=American Astronomical Society, DPS meeting #42, #26.04; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 42, page 1025}}</ref> MISE is built in collaboration with the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL).

* {{small|'''Principal investigator:''' Diana Blaney, [[Organization:Jet Propulsion Laboratory|Jet Propulsion Laboratory]]}}

==== Europa Imaging System (EIS) ====
The [[Engineering:Europa Imaging System|Europa Imaging System]] is a [[Physics:Visible spectrum|visible spectrum]] wide and narrow angle camera instrument that will map most of Europa at {{cvt|50|m}} resolution, and will provide images of selected surface areas at up to {{cvt|0.5|m|in}} resolution.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Turtle |first1=Elizabeth |last2=Mcewen |first2=Alfred |author-link2=Alfred McEwen |last3=Collins |first3=G. |last4=Fletcher |first4=L. |last5=Hansen |first5=C. |last6=Hayes |first6=A. |last7=Hurford |first7=T. |last8=Kirk |first8=R. |last9=Mlinar |first9=A.C. |title=THE EUROPA IMAGING SYSTEM (EIS): HIGH RESOLUTION IMAGING AND TOPOGRAPHY TO INVESTIGATE EUROPA'S GEOLOGY, ICE SHELL, AND POTENTIAL FOR CURRENT ACTIVITY. |url=https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2016/pdf/1626.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210305231100/https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2016/pdf/1626.pdf |archive-date=March 5, 2021 |access-date=May 14, 2021 |publisher=Universities Space Research Association}}</ref>

* {{small|'''Principal investigator:''' Elizabeth Turtle, [[Organization:Applied Physics Laboratory|Applied Physics Laboratory]]}}

==== Europa Ultraviolet Spectrograph (Europa-UVS) ====
The [[Engineering:Europa Ultraviolet Spectrograph|Europa Ultraviolet Spectrograph]] instrument will be able to detect small plumes and will provide valuable data about the composition and dynamics of the moon's [[Earth:Exosphere|exosphere]]. The principal investigator Kurt Retherford was part of a group that discovered plumes erupting from Europa while using the [[Astronomy:Hubble Space Telescope|Hubble Space Telescope]] in the [[Ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy|UV spectrum]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Roth |first=Lorenz |year=2014 |title=Transient Water Vapor at Europa's South Pole |journal=Science |volume=343 |issue=171 |pages=171–4 |bibcode=2014Sci...343..171R |doi=10.1126/science.1247051 |issn=1095-9203 |pmid=24336567 |s2cid=27428538}}|access-date=May 27, 2015</ref>

* {{small|'''Principal investigator:''' Kurt Retherford, [[Organization:Southwest Research Institute|Southwest Research Institute]]}}

==== Radar for Europa Assessment and Sounding: Ocean to Near-surface (REASON) ====
The Radar for Europa Assessment and Sounding: Ocean to Near-surface (REASON)<ref name="REASON2015">{{Cite news |date=June 1, 2015 |title=Radar Techniques Used in Antarctica Will Scour Europa for Life-Supporting Environments |publisher=University of Texas Austin |url=http://astrobiology.com/2015/06/radar-techniques-used-in-antarctica-will-scour-europa-for-life-supporting-environments.html |url-status=live |access-date=June 4, 2015 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20151115171717/http://astrobiology.com/2015/06/radar-techniques-used-in-antarctica-will-scour-europa-for-life-supporting-environments.html |archive-date=November 15, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Grima |first1=Cyril |last2=Schroeder |first2=Dustin |last3=Blakenship |first3=Donald D. |last4=Young |first4=Duncan A. |date=November 15, 2014 |title=Planetary landing-zone reconnaissance using ice-penetrating radar data: Concept validation in Antarctica |journal=Planetary and Space Science |volume=103 |pages=191–204 |bibcode=2014P&SS..103..191G |doi=10.1016/j.pss.2014.07.018 |doi-access=free}}</ref> is a dual-frequency [[Earth:Radioglaciology|ice penetrating radar]] instrument that is designed to characterize and sound Europa's ice crust from the near-surface to the ocean, revealing the hidden structure of Europa's ice shell and potential water pockets within. This instrument will be built by [[Organization:Jet Propulsion Laboratory|Jet Propulsion Laboratory]].<ref name="JPL2015" /><ref name="REASON2015" />

* {{small|'''Principal investigator:''' Donald Blankenship, [[Organization:University of Texas at Austin|University of Texas at Austin]]}}

==== Interior Characterization of Europa using Magnetometry (ICEMAG) ====
The [[Engineering:Interior Characterization of Europa using Magnetometry|Interior Characterization of Europa using Magnetometry]] (ICEMAG) was '''cancelled''' due to cost overruns.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Foust |first=Jeff |date=March 6, 2019 |title=NASA to replace Europa Clipper instrument |url=https://spacenews.com/nasa-to-replace-europa-clipper-instrument/ |access-date=April 26, 2019 |publisher=SpaceNews}}</ref> ICEMAG will be replaced by a simpler magnetometer.<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 5, 2019 |title=NASA Seeks New Options for Science Instrument on Europa Clipper |url=https://www.nasa.gov/feature/jpl/nasa-seeks-new-options-for-science-instrument-on-europa-clipper/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210219064432/https://www.nasa.gov/feature/jpl/nasa-seeks-new-options-for-science-instrument-on-europa-clipper/ |archive-date=February 19, 2021 |access-date=March 13, 2019 |publisher=NASA}} {{PD-notice}}</ref>

==== Europa Clipper Magnetometer (ECM) ====
Replacing the ICEMAG instrument, [[Engineering:Europa Clipper Magnetometer|Europa Clipper Magnetometer]] (ECM) will be used to characterize the magnetic fields around Europa. The instrument consists of three magnetic flux gates placed along a 25ft boom, which will be stowed during launch and deployed afterwards.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ECM Instruments- NASA's Europa Clipper |url=https://europa.nasa.gov/spacecraft/instruments/ecm/ |access-date=October 11, 2022 |publisher=NASA}}</ref> By studying the strength and orientation of Europa's magnetic field over multiple flybys, scientists hope to be able to confirm the existence of Europa's subsurface ocean, as well as characterize the thickness of its icy crust and measure the water's depth and salinity.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ECM: How We'll Use It |url=https://europa.nasa.gov/spacecraft/instruments/ecm/#otp_how_we'll_use_it |access-date=October 11, 2022 |publisher=NASA}}</ref>
* {{small|'''Instrument Team Lead:''' Margaret Kivelson, [[Organization:University of Michigan|University of Michigan]]}}

==== Plasma Instrument for Magnetic Sounding (PIMS) ====
[[File:Plasma Instrument for Magnetic Sounding (PIMS).tif|thumb|Plasma Instrument for Magnetic Sounding (PIMS). Pictured in a clean room at APL are the recently assembled Faraday cup sensors and instrument housings in two configurations. On the left is the final flight hardware, with insulating thermal blankets installed; on the right is a test configuration that protects sensitive hardware for transportation.]]
The [[Engineering:Plasma Instrument for Magnetic Sounding|Plasma Instrument for Magnetic Sounding]] (PIMS) measures the [[Physics:Plasma|plasma]] surrounding Europa to characterise the magnetic fields generated by plasma currents. These plasma currents mask the [[Physics:Electromagnetic induction|magnetic induction]] response of Europa's subsurface ocean. In conjunction with a magnetometer, it is key to determining Europa's ice shell thickness, ocean depth, and salinity. PIMS will also probe the mechanisms responsible for weathering and releasing material from Europa's surface into the [[Astronomy:Atmosphere|atmosphere]] and [[Astronomy:Ionosphere|ionosphere]] and understanding how Europa influences its local space environment and Jupiter's [[Astronomy:Magnetosphere|magnetosphere]].<ref>{{Cite conference |last1=Westlake |first1=Joseph |last2=Rymer |first2=A. M. |last3=Kasper |first3=J. C. |last4=McNutt |first4=R. L. |last5=Smith |first5=H. T. |last6=Stevens |first6=M. L. |last7=Parker |first7=C. |last8=Case |first8=A. W. |last9=Ho |first9=G. C. |date=2014 |title=The Influence of Magnetospheric Plasma on Magnetic Sounding of Europa's Interior Oceans |url=https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/icyworlds2014/pdf/4032.pdf |conference=Workshop on the Habitability of Icy Worlds (2014) |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160610204847/http://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/icyworlds2014/pdf/4032.pdf |archive-date=June 10, 2016 |access-date=May 27, 2015 |last10=Mitchell |first10=D. G. |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Joseph |first=Westlake |date=December 14, 2015 |title=The Plasma Instrument for Magnetic Sounding (PIMS): Enabling Required Plasma Measurements for the Exploration of Europa |url=https://agu.confex.com/agu/fm15/webprogram/Paper66117.html |url-status=live |journal=AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts |publisher=AGU |volume=2015 |pages=P13E–09 |bibcode=2015AGUFM.P13E..09W |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170123035543/https://agu.confex.com/agu/fm15/webprogram/Paper66117.html |archive-date=January 23, 2017 |access-date=June 21, 2016}}</ref>

* {{small|'''Principal investigator:''' Joseph Westlake, [[Organization:Applied Physics Laboratory|Applied Physics Laboratory]]}}

==== Mass Spectrometer for Planetary Exploration (MASPEX) ====
The [[Engineering:Mass Spectrometer for Planetary Exploration|Mass Spectrometer for Planetary Exploration]] (MASPEX) will determine the composition of the surface and subsurface ocean by measuring Europa's extremely tenuous atmosphere and any surface materials ejected into space. Jack Waite, who led development of MASPEX, was also Science Team Lead of the [[Astronomy:Cassini–Huygens|Ion and Neutral Mass Spectrometer]] (INMS) on the ''[[Astronomy:Cassini–Huygens|Cassini]]'' spacecraft.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mass Spectrometer for Planetary Exploration / Europa (MASPEX) |url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/experiment/display.action?id=EUROPA-CL-08 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210519011818/https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/experiment/display.action?id=EUROPA-CL-08 |archive-date=May 19, 2021 |access-date=May 18, 2021 |website=[[Engineering:NASA Space Science Data Coordinated Archive|NASA Space Science Data Coordinated Archive]] |publisher=[[Organization:NASA|NASA]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last1=Waite |first1=Jack |last2=Lewis |first2=W. |last3=Kasprzak |first3=W. |last4=Anicich |first4=V. |last5=Block |first5=B. |last6=Cravens |first6=T. |last7=Fletcher |first7=G. |last8=Ip |first8=W. |last9=Luhmann |first9=J |date=August 13, 1998 |title=THE CASSINI ION AND NEUTRAL MASS SPECTROMETER (INMS) INVESTIGATION |url=https://www.lpl.arizona.edu/~yelle/eprints/Waite04a.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211228164227/https://www.lpl.arizona.edu/~yelle/eprints/Waite04a.pdf |archive-date=December 28, 2021 |access-date=May 18, 2021 |website=[[Organization:Lunar and Planetary Laboratory|Lunar and Planetary Laboratory]] |publisher=[[Organization:University of Arizona|University of Arizona]]}}</ref>

* {{small|'''Principal investigator:''' Jim Burch, [[Organization:Southwest Research Institute|Southwest Research Institute]]}}

==== Surface Dust Analyzer (SUDA) ====
The [[Engineering:Surface Dust Analyser|SUrface Dust Analyzer]] (SUDA)<ref name="europa.nasa.gov" /> is a [[Physics:Mass spectrometry|mass spectrometer]] that will measure the composition of small solid particles ejected from Europa, providing the opportunity to directly sample the surface and potential plumes on low-altitude flybys. The instrument is capable of identifying traces of organic and inorganic compounds in the ice of ejecta.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Kempf |first=Sascha |display-authors=0 |date=May 2012 |title=Linear high resolution dust mass spectrometer for a mission to the Galilean satellites |journal=Planetary and Space Science |volume=65 |issue=1 |pages=10–20 |bibcode=2012P&SS...65...10K |doi=10.1016/j.pss.2011.12.019}}</ref>

* {{small|'''Principal investigator:''' Sascha Kempf, [[Organization:University of Colorado Boulder|University of Colorado Boulder]]}}

==== Gravity/Radio Science ====
[[File:PIA22773 Europa Clipper Antenna Prototype.jpg|thumb|A full-scale prototype of the high-gain antenna on Europa Clipper spacecraft is undergoing testing in the Experimental Test Range at NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia]]
While not intended for use specifically as an instrument, Clipper will be using its radio antenna to perform additional experiments and learn about Europa's gravitational field. As the spacecraft performs each of its 45 flybys, its trajectory will be subtly altered by the moon's gravity. By sending radio signals between earth and the moon and characterizing the Doppler Shift in the return signal, scientists at JPL will be able to create a detailed characterization of the spacecraft's motion. This data will help to determine how the moon is flexing in relation to its distance from Jupiter, which will in turn reveal information about the moon's internal structure and tidal motions. <ref>{{Cite web |title=Gravity/Radio Science Instruments |url=https://europa.nasa.gov/spacecraft/instruments/gravity-radio-science/ |access-date=November 12, 2022 |publisher=NASA}}</ref>  

* {{small|'''Team lead:''' Erwan Mazarico [[Organization:Goddard Space Flight Center|Goddard Space Flight Center]]}}

=== Proposed secondary elements ===
[[File:CubeSat in hand.jpg|thumb|upright=1.0|right|A 1U CubeSat is a 10 cm cube.]]

The ''Europa Clipper'' mission considered an extra mass of about {{convert|250|kg|lbs}} to carry an additional flight element.<ref name="Benedetto 2016" /> About a dozen proposals have been suggested but none went beyond the concept study phase and none are planned for the Europa Clipper mission. A few of which are described next:

==== Nanosatellites ====
Since the ''Europa Clipper'' mission may not be able to easily modify its orbital trajectory or altitude to fly through the episodic water [[Astronomy:Europa (moon)#Plumes|plumes]], scientists and engineers working on the mission have investigated deploying from the spacecraft several miniaturized satellites of the [[Engineering:CubeSat|CubeSat]] format, possibly driven by [[Engineering:Ion thruster|ion thruster]]s, to fly through the plumes and assess the habitability of Europa's internal ocean.<ref name="Phillips 2014" /><ref name="Clark2015" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=October 8, 2014 |title=JPL Selects Europa CubeSat Proposals for Study |work=Jet Propulsion Laboratory |publisher=NASA |url=http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?feature=4330 |url-status=live |access-date=April 17, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111202713/http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?feature=4330 |archive-date=November 11, 2020}} {{PD-notice}}</ref> Some early proposals include ''Mini-MAGGIE'',<ref name="mini-maggie">{{Cite web |last1=Burgett |first1=B. |last2=Long |first2=J. |last3=Whaley |first3=P. |last4=Raz |first4=A. |last5=Herrick |first5=R.R. |last6=Thorsen |first6=D. |last7=Delamere |first7=P. |date=2016 |title=Mini-MAGGIE: CubeSat MAGnetism and Gravity Investigation at Europa |url=http://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2016/pdf/1928.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170122232842/http://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2016/pdf/1928.pdf |archive-date=January 22, 2017 |access-date=October 10, 2022 |publisher=Lunar and Planetary Science Conference}}</ref>[ ], ''DARCSIDE'',<ref name="darcside-smallsat">{{Cite web |last1=Chanover |first1=Nancy |last2=Murphy |first2=James |last3=Rankin |first3=Kyle |last4=Stochaj |first4=Steven |last5=Thelen |first5=Alexander |date=August 31, 2016 |title=CubeSat Session I: Beyond LEO |url=http://digitalcommons.usu.edu/smallsat/2016/S1BeyondLEO/4/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201124073401/http://digitalcommons.usu.edu/smallsat/2016/S1BeyondLEO/4/ |archive-date=November 24, 2020 |access-date=October 10, 2022 |publisher=Small Satellites Conference}}</ref><ref>[http://www.jossonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Final-Thelen-A-Europa-CubeSat-Concept-Study-for-Measuring-Atmospheric-Density-and-Heavy-Ion-Flux.pdf A Europa CubeSat Concept Study for Measuring Atmospheric Density and Heavy Ion Flux] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180413094402/http://www.jossonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Final-Thelen-A-Europa-CubeSat-Concept-Study-for-Measuring-Atmospheric-Density-and-Heavy-Ion-Flux.pdf |date=April 13, 2018 }}, Thelen, A. et al., (2017): ''Journal of Small Satellites'', Vol. 6, No. 2, pp. 591–607</ref> ''Sylph''<ref>[http://digitalcommons.usu.edu/smallsat/2016/TS11SciPayload1/6/ Sylph – A SmallSat Probe Concept Engineered to Answer Europa's Big Question] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122034601/http://digitalcommons.usu.edu/smallsat/2016/TS11SciPayload1/6/ |date=January 22, 2021 }}, 2016</ref> and CSALT. These concepts were funded for preliminary studies but none were considered for hardware development or flight. The ''Europa Clipper'' would have relayed signals from the nanosatellites back to [[Astronomy:Earth|Earth]]. With propulsion, some nanosatellites could also be capable of entering orbit around Europa.<ref name="FPE" />

==== Secondary orbiters ====
===== Biosignature Explorer for Europa =====
NASA was also assessing the release of an additional {{cvt|250|kg}} probe called ''Biosignature Explorer for Europa'' (BEE), that would have been equipped with a basic bi-propellant engine and cold gas thrusters to be more agile and responsive to the episodic activity on Europa and sample and analyze the water plumes for [[Astronomy:Biosignature|biosignature]]s and life evidence before they are destroyed by radiation.<ref name="BEE 2016" /> The BEE plume probe would have been equipped with a proven [[Physics:Mass spectrometry|mass spectrometer]] combined with [[Gas chromatography|gas chromatograph]] separation. It would also carry an [[Physics:Ultraviolet|ultraviolet]] (UV) plume targeting camera as well as [[Physics:Visible spectrum|visible]] and infrared cameras to image the active region with better resolution than the ''Clipper'' mother ship instruments.<ref name="BEE 2016" /> The BEE probe would have flown through at {{cvt|2|to|10|km|mi}} altitude, then made a quick exit and performed its analysis far from the radiation belts.<ref name="BEE 2016" />

===== Europa Tomography Probe =====
[[File:1-pia25957 europa-clipper-hga-installation-in-progress-1041.jpg|thumb|Engineers and technicians install Europa Clipper's high-gain antenna in the main clean room at JPL.]]

A European proposal, the Europa Tomography Probe, was a concept for an independent powered spacecraft equipped with a [[Physics:Magnetometer|magnetometer]] that would orbit Europa on a polar orbit for at least six months. It would have determined the deep interior structure of Europa and provided a good determination of the ice shell thickness and ocean depth, which arguably cannot be done accurately by multiple flybys.<ref name="Benedetto 2016" />

==== Impactor probes ====
Some proposed impactor probe concepts include those by the Netherlands,<ref name="Wurs 2017">[https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11038-017-9508-7, An Impacting Descent Probe for Europa and the Other Galilean Moons of Jupiter] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221010134357/https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11038-017-9508-7, |date=October 10, 2022 }}, Wurz, P., Lasi, D., Thomas, N. et al., ''Earth Moon Planets'' (2017) 120: 113, {{doi|10.1007/s11038-017-9508-7}}</ref> and {{wipe|United Kingdom}}.<ref>[https://research-information.bristol.ac.uk/files/70486876/Europa.pdf Europa's small impactor flux and seismic detection predictions] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180723053355/https://research-information.bristol.ac.uk/files/70486876/Europa.pdf |date=July 23, 2018 }}, Tsu ji, D., and Teanby, N. A., (2016), ''Icarus'', 277, 39–55. {{doi |10.1016/j.icarus.2016.04.036}}</ref>

==== Flyby sample return ====
The ''Europa Life Signature Assayer'' (ELSA) concept by the [[Organization:University of Colorado|University of Colorado]] consisted of a probe that could have been flown as a secondary payload. ELSA would have used a small impactor to create a plume of subsurface particles and catapulted them to altitudes where it would have been able to pass through to collect samples and analyze them on board.<ref>[https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20170002063.pdf TRAJECTORY AND NAVIGATION DESIGN FOR AN IMPACTOR MISSION CONCEPT] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200731042441/https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20170002063.pdf |date=July 31, 2020 }}, Andres Dono Perez, Roland Burtony, Jan Stuplz, and David Mauro, 2017, NASA AAS 17-487 {{PD-notice}}</ref><ref>[https://www.colorado.edu/aerospace/sites/default/files/attached-files/elsa_aiaa.pdf Project ELSA: Europa Lander for Science Acquisition] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180105123057/https://www.colorado.edu/aerospace/sites/default/files/attached-files/elsa_aiaa.pdf |date=January 5, 2018 }}, Darren Combs, Gabe Frank, Sara Grandone, Colton Hall, Daniel Johnson, Trevor Luke, Scott Mende, Daniel Nowicki, Ben Stringer, University of Colorado, Boulder, 2017</ref> A variation of this concept is the 1996 ''Ice Clipper'', which involves a {{convert|10|kg|lb|adj=on}} impactor that would be jettisoned from the main spacecraft to impact Europa, thereby creating a debris cloud in nearby space about {{convert|100|km|mi|sp=us}} altitude, subsequently sampled by a small spacecraft on a close flyby and use Europa's gravitational force for a [[Astronomy:Free-return trajectory|free return trajectory]].<ref name="Jones 2016">[http://drewryanjones.com/assets/conf_paper_2016_no3.pdf Trajectories for Europa Flyby Sample Return] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200731023937/http://drewryanjones.com/assets/conf_paper_2016_no3.pdf |date=July 31, 2020 }}, Drew Ryan Jones, JPL</ref><ref>"Planetary Protection for a Europa Surface Sample Return: The Ice Clipper Mission", Chris McKay, ''Advances in Space Research'', Vol. 30, No. 6, 2002, pp. 1601–1605</ref><ref>"Europa Ice Clipper: A Discovery class sample return mission to Europa", Chris McKay et al., Proposal from NASA Ames Research Center to NASA HQ submitted December 11, 1996 {{PD-notice}}</ref> The collection mechanism is tentatively considered to be [[Engineering:Aerogel|aerogel]] (similar to [[Engineering:Stardust (spacecraft)|''Stardust'' mission]]).

=== Add-on lander history ===
An early ''Europa Clipper'' concept called for including a stationary lander about {{convert|1|m|ft|sigfig=1}} in diameter, perhaps about {{cvt|230|kg}} with a maximum of {{cvt|30|kg}} for instruments<ref name="Lander funding" /> plus propellant. Suggested instruments were a [[Physics:Mass spectrometer|mass spectrometer]] and a Raman spectrometer to determine the chemistry of the surface.<ref name="Lander funding" /> The lander was proposed to be delivered to Europa by the main spacecraft and possibly require the [[Organization:Mars Science Laboratory#Sky crane|sky crane system]] for a high precision, soft landing near an active crevasse.<ref name="lander 2015 concept">{{Cite news |last=Berger |first=Eric |date=November 17, 2015 |title=Attempt no landing there? Yeah right—we're going to Europa |pages=1–3 |publisher=Ars Technica |url=https://arstechnica.com/science/2015/11/attempt-no-landing-there-yeah-right-were-going-to-europa/ |url-status=live |access-date=January 5, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160110122700/http://arstechnica.com/science/2015/11/attempt-no-landing-there-yeah-right-were-going-to-europa/ |archive-date=January 10, 2016}}</ref> The lander would have operated about 10 days on the surface using battery power.<ref name="Lander funding" />

The ''Europa Clipper'' would take about three years to image 95% of the surface of Europa at about {{convert|50|m|ft}} per pixel. With this data, scientists could then find a suitable landing site.<ref name="lander 2015 concept" /> By one estimate, including a lander could add as much as US$1 billion to the mission's cost.<ref name="lander 2015 concept" />

====Separate launch====
{{main|Astronomy:Europa Lander}}

[[File:PIA21048 - Europa Lander Mission Concept (Artist's Rendering).jpg|thumb|upright=1.0|right|An artist's impression of the separately launched [[Astronomy:Europa Lander|Europa Lander]] mission (2017 design)]]

It was determined in February 2017 that designing a system capable of landing on a surface about which very little is known bears too much risk, and that the ''Europa Clipper'' will lay the foundation for a future landing mission by performing detailed reconnaissance first.<ref name="jpl-science-report">{{Cite web |date=February 8, 2017 |title=NASA Receives Science Report on Europa Lander Concept |url=https://www.nasa.gov/feature/nasa-receives-science-report-on-europa-lander-concept |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112015154/https://www.nasa.gov/feature/nasa-receives-science-report-on-europa-lander-concept |archive-date=November 12, 2020 |access-date=October 10, 2022 |publisher=NASA}}{{PD-notice}}</ref> This led to a stand-alone mission proposal in 2017: the [[Astronomy:Europa Lander (NASA)|Europa Lander]].<ref name="FoustJuly2017">{{Cite web |last=Foust |first=Jeff |date=July 18, 2017 |title=JPL moves ahead with Mars and Europa missions despite funding uncertainty |url=http://spacenews.com/jpl-moves-ahead-with-mars-and-europa-missions-despite-funding-uncertainty/ |website=SpaceNews}}</ref> The NASA Europa Lander, if funded, would be launched separately in 2025<ref name="Foust Feb 2019">{{Cite web |last=Foust |first=Jeff |date=February 17, 2019 |title=Final fiscal year 2019 budget bill secures US$21.5 billion for NASA |url=https://spacenews.com/final-fiscal-year-2019-budget-bill-secures-21-5-billion-for-nasa/ |website=SpaceNews}}</ref> to complement the studies by the ''Europa Clipper'' mission.<ref name="europajpl">{{Cite web |title=NASA Receives Science Report on Europa Lander Concept |url=http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?feature=6737 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170216052238/http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?feature=6737 |archive-date=February 16, 2017 |access-date=February 15, 2017 |publisher=NASA/JPL}} {{PD-notice}}</ref><ref name="Joe 2016">[http://spacenews.com/nasa-weighing-dual-launches-of-europa-orbiter-and-lander/ NASA weighing dual launches of Europa orbiter and lander], Joe Faust, SpaceNews, February 2016</ref> If funded, approximately 10 proposals may be selected to proceed into a competitive process with a US$1.5 million budget per investigation.<ref>[https://www.nasa.gov/feature/nasa-asks-scientific-community-to-think-on-possible-europa-lander-instruments NASA Asks Scientific Community to Think on Possible Europa Lander Instruments] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210219071024/https://www.nasa.gov/feature/nasa-asks-scientific-community-to-think-on-possible-europa-lander-instruments/ |date=February 19, 2021 }}, NASA News, May 17, 2017 {{PD-notice}}</ref> The President's 2018 and 2019 federal budget proposals did not fund the Europa Lander, but did assign US$195 million<ref>[https://www.aip.org/fyi/2018/fy19-appropriations-bills-nasa FY19 Appropriations Bills: NASA] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200213190947/https://www.aip.org/fyi/2018/fy19-appropriations-bills-nasa |date=February 13, 2020 }} – Europa Missions, American Institute of Physics, June 20, 2018</ref> for concept studies.<ref>[https://spaceflightnow.com/2018/03/23/space-launch-system-planetary-exploration-get-big-boosts-in-nasa-budget/ Space Launch System, planetary exploration get big boosts in NASA budget] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190715134352/https://spaceflightnow.com/2018/03/23/space-launch-system-planetary-exploration-get-big-boosts-in-nasa-budget/ |date=July 15, 2019 }}, Stephen Clark,  Spaceflight Now, March 23, 2018</ref><ref name="2018 concept">{{cite news|url=https://spacenews.com/europa-lander-concept-redesigned-to-lower-cost-and-complexity/|title= Europa lander concept redesigned to lower cost and complexity|author=Jeff Foust|date=March 29, 2018|publisher=Space News|access-date=July 4, 2023}}</ref>

The 2022 omnibus spending bill allocates $14.2 million to Icy Satellites Surface Technology for a future Ocean Worlds lander mission (NASA had requested $5 million for the Europa Lander).<ref>{{Cite news |last=Smith |first=Marcia |date=March 10, 2022 |title=NASA TO GET $24 BILLION FOR FY2022, MORE THAN LAST YEAR BUT LESS THAN BIDEN WANTED |publisher=spacepolicyonline.com |url=https://spacepolicyonline.com/news/nasa-to-get-24-billion-for-fy2022-more-than-last-year-but-less-than-biden-wanted/ |url-status=live |access-date=March 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220313063009/https://spacepolicyonline.com/news/nasa-to-get-24-billion-for-fy2022-more-than-last-year-but-less-than-biden-wanted/ |archive-date=March 13, 2022}}</ref>

== Launch and trajectory ==
Congress had originally mandated that ''Europa Clipper'' be launched on NASA's [[Astronomy:Space Launch System|Space Launch System]] (SLS) [[Engineering:Super heavy-lift launch vehicle|super heavy-lift launch vehicle]], but [[Organization:NASA|NASA]] had requested that other vehicles be allowed to launch the spacecraft due to a foreseen lack of available SLS vehicles.<ref name="Launch 2024">{{Cite web |last=Foust |first=Jeff |date=July 10, 2020 |title=Cost growth prompts changes to Europa Clipper instruments |url=https://spacenews.com/cost-growth-prompts-changes-to-europa-clipper-instruments/ |access-date=July 10, 2020 |publisher=SpaceNews}}</ref> The United States Congress's 2021 omnibus spending bill directed the NASA Administrator to conduct a full and open competition to select a commercial launch vehicle if the conditions to launch the probe on a SLS rocket cannot be met.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Howell |first=Elizabeth |date=December 22, 2020 |title=NASA receives US$23.3 billion for 2021 fiscal year in Congress' omnibus spending bill |publisher=SPACE.com |url=https://www.space.com/nasa-2021-budget-congress-omnibus-spending-bill |url-status=live |access-date=December 29, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210116062645/https://www.space.com/nasa-2021-budget-congress-omnibus-spending-bill |archive-date=January 16, 2021}}</ref>

On January 25, 2021, NASA's Planetary Missions Program Office formally directed the mission team to "immediately cease efforts to maintain SLS compatibility" and move forward with a commercial launch vehicle.<ref name="NASA use commercial" />

On February 10, 2021, it was announced that the mission would use a 5.5-year trajectory to the Jovian system, with gravity-assist maneuvers involving Mars (February 2025) and Earth (December 2026). Launch is targeted for a 21-day period between October 10 and 30, 2024, giving an arrival date in April 2030, and backup launch dates were identified in 2025 and 2026.<ref name="NASA use commercial" />

The SLS option would have entailed a direct trajectory to Jupiter taking less than three years.<ref name="2016 Funds" /><ref name="Lander funding" /><ref name="Phillips 2014" /> One alternative to the direct trajectory was identified as using a commercial rocket, with a longer 6-year cruise time involving [[Astronomy:Gravity assist|gravity assist]] maneuvers at [[Astronomy:Venus|Venus]], [[Astronomy:Earth|Earth]] and/or [[Astronomy:Mars|Mars]]. Another option was performing a {{convert|700|–|800|m/s|mph|adj=on|sp=us}} maneuver at insertion orbit aphelion with a [[Engineering:Falcon Heavy|Falcon Heavy]]. This launch window is open once a year and would have required only one gravity assist, with Earth, and would shorten the travel time to 4.5 years, while only needing a [[Astronomy:Characteristic energy|C3]] of 25–28&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>/s<sup>2</sup>.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Trajectory Browser |url=https://trajbrowser.arc.nasa.gov/traj_browser.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507161617/https://trajbrowser.arc.nasa.gov/traj_browser.php |archive-date=May 7, 2021 |access-date=May 20, 2021 |website=trajbrowser.arc.nasa.gov |publisher=NASA}} {{PD-notice}}</ref> Additionally, a launch on a [[Engineering:Delta IV Heavy|Delta IV Heavy]] with a gravity assist at Venus was considered.<ref name="ARS-EC">{{Cite web |last=Berger |first=Eric |date=July 23, 2021 |title=SpaceX to launch the Europa Clipper mission for a bargain price |url=https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/07/spacex-to-launch-the-europa-clipper-mission-for-a-bargain-price/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210805032226/https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/07/spacex-to-launch-the-europa-clipper-mission-for-a-bargain-price/ |archive-date=August 5, 2021 |access-date=October 10, 2022 |publisher=[[Ars Technica]]}}</ref>

In July 2021 Falcon Heavy was chosen to launch the spacecraft.<ref name="nasa-202107232" /> Three reasons were given: launch cost, SLS availability, and "shaking".<ref name=ARS-EC/> The move to Falcon Heavy saved an estimated US$2 billion in launch costs alone.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ralph |first=Eric |title=SpaceX Falcon Heavy to launch NASA ocean moon explorer, saving the US billions |url=https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-falcon-heavy-nasa-ocean-moon-mission/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211128000524/https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-falcon-heavy-nasa-ocean-moon-mission/ |archive-date=November 28, 2021 |access-date=November 28, 2021 |website=Teslarati|date=July 25, 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Berger |first=Eric |date=July 23, 2021 |title=SpaceX to launch the Europa Clipper mission for a bargain price |url=https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/07/spacex-to-launch-the-europa-clipper-mission-for-a-bargain-price/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210805032226/https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/07/spacex-to-launch-the-europa-clipper-mission-for-a-bargain-price/ |archive-date=August 5, 2021 |access-date=November 28, 2021 |website=arstechnica}}</ref> NASA was not sure an SLS would be available for the mission since the [[Astronomy:Artemis program|Artemis program]] would use SLS rockets extensively, and the SLS's use of [[Engineering:Solid rocket booster|solid rocket booster]]s (SRBs) generates more vibrations in the payload than a launcher that does not use SRBs. The cost to redesign Europa Clipper for the SLS vibratory environment was estimated at US$1 billion.

{{multiple image
| align = center
| direction = horizontal
| width = 300px
| header = Animation of Europa Clipper
| image1 = Animation of Europa Clipper trajectory.gif 
| caption1 = Around the Sun<br>{{legend2|Magenta|Europa Clipper}}{{·}}{{legend2| RoyalBlue| Earth}}{{·}}{{legend2| Lime| Jupiter}}{{·}}{{legend2|Yellow|Sun}}{{·}}{{legend2|Darkkhaki|Mars}}
| image2 = Animation of Europa Clipper trajectory around Jupiter.gif 
| caption2 = Around Jupiter<br>{{legend2|Magenta|Europa Clipper}}{{·}}{{legend2|Cyan|Europa}}{{·}}{{legend2|Gold|Callisto}}{{·}}{{legend2|OrangeRed|Io}}
| footer =
}}
==Public outreach==
To raise public awareness of the Europa Clipper mission, NASA undertook a "Message In A Bottle" campaign, i.e. actually "Send Your Name to Europa" campaign on 1 June 2023, through which people around the world are invited to send their names as signatories to a poem called, "In Praise of Mystery: A Poem for Europa" written by the U.S. Poet Laureate Ada Limón. The poem connects the two water worlds — Earth, yearning to reach out and understand what makes a world habitable, and Europa, waiting with secrets yet to be explored.

The poem is engraved on ''Europa Clipper'' inside a tantalum metal plate that seals an opening into the vault. The inward-facing side of the metal plate will be engraved with the poem in the poet's own handwriting, along with participants' names that will be etched onto microchips mounted on the spacecraft. Together, the poem and names will travel 1.8 billion miles on Europa Clipper’s voyage to the Jupiter system. After registering their names, participants received a digital ticket with details of the mission's launch and destination. Names are currently being taken till the registration period ends.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Learn {{!}} Message in a bottle |url=https://europa.nasa.gov/message-in-a-bottle/learn |access-date=2023-06-02 |website=NASA's Europa Clipper}}</ref>

== See also ==
* {{annotated link|Astronomy:Europa Orbiter}}
* {{annotated link|Astronomy:Europa Jupiter System Mission – Laplace}}
* {{annotated link|Astronomy:Exploration of Jupiter}}
* {{annotated link|Engineering:Galileo (spacecraft)}}
* {{annotated link|Astronomy:Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer}}
* {{annotated link|Astronomy:Jupiter Icy Moons Orbiter}}
* {{annotated link|Astronomy:Laplace-P}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20160129133110/http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/europaflyby ''Europa'' Mission] at [http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/ NASA's Solar System Exploration]

{{Europa Clipper}}
{{Europa}}
{{Jupiter}}
{{Planetary Missions Program Office|Solar System Exploration=y}}
{{Jupiter spacecraft}}
{{Mars spacecraft}}
{{NASA space program}}
{{Astrobiology}}
{{Extraterrestrial life}}
{{Future spaceflights}}

[[Category:Europa Clipper| ]]
[[Category:Proposed NASA space probes]]
[[Category:Proposed astrobiology space missions]]
[[Category:NASA programs]]
[[Category:Missions to Jupiter]]
[[Category:Orbiters (space probe)]]
[[Category:Europa (moon)]]
[[Category:Solar System Exploration program]]

{{Sourceattribution|Europa Clipper}}