View source for Engineering:Europa Clipper Magnetometer

{{short description|Europa Clipper's magnetometer instrument}}
{{Infobox spacecraft instrument
| Name = Europa Clipper Magnetometer
| Image = Clipper callout ecm flipped.jpg
| Caption = Rendering of the Europa Clipper spacecraft, with ECM highlighted in red

| Operator = [[Organization:NASA|NASA]]
| Manufacturer = [[Organization:Jet Propulsion Laboratory|Jet Propulsion Laboratory]]<ref name="NASABOOM">{{cite web |title=Europa Clipper Magnetometer (ECM) Boom - NASA's Europa Clipper |url=https://europa.nasa.gov/resources/215/europa-clipper-magnetometer-ecm-boom/ |website=NASA |access-date=8 August 2022}}</ref><ref name="NASAFLUX">{{cite web |title=Magnetometer Fluxgate Assembly - NASA's Europa Clipper |url=https://europa.nasa.gov/resources/337/magnetometer-fluxgate-assembly/ |website=NASA |access-date=8 August 2022}}</ref>
| Type = Magnetometer
| Function = Measuring magnetic field to characterize subsurface features
| Mission_Duration =  Cruise: 3-6 years<br/> Science phase: ≥ 3 years
| Began = <!--date operations began (single instruments only)-->
| Ceased = <!--date operations ceased (single instruments only)-->
| Webpage = 

| Mass = 
| Dimensions = 8.5 m (length, fully deployed)
| Power_consumption = 
| Resolution = 
| Spectral_Band = 
| Data_Rate = 

| Spacecraft = ''[[Astronomy:Europa Clipper|Europa Clipper]]''
| SC_Operator = [[Organization:NASA|NASA]]
| Launch = ≈ 2025 <ref name='Launch 2025'>[https://spacenews.com/europa-clipper-passes-key-review/ Europa Clipper passes key review.] Jeff Foust, ''Space News.'' 22 August 2019.</ref><!--NASA noted launch NET 2023. However, the mission has a formal launch readiness date of 2025.--><!--Launch date (single instruments only)-->
| Rocket = [[Engineering:Falcon Heavy|Falcon Heavy]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://spacenews.com/nasa-to-use-commercial-launch-vehicle-for-europa-clipper/ | title=NASA to use commercial launch vehicle for Europa Clipper | date=11 February 2021 }}</ref>
| Launch_Site = Kennedy Space Center 
| COSPAR = <!--COSPAR ID of host spacecraft-->
}}

The '''Europa Clipper Magnetometer''' ('''ECM''') is a [[Engineering:Spacecraft magnetometer|spacecraft magnetometer]] aboard the planned ''[[Astronomy:Europa Clipper|Europa Clipper]]'' mission. It will be used to precisely measure [[Astronomy:Europa (moon)|Europa]]'s magnetic field during consecutive fly-bys, allowing scientists to potentially confirm the existence of Europa's hypothesised subsurface ocean. If this ocean exists, the instrument will be able to determine its depth and salinity, as well as the thickness of the moon's icy shell.<ref name="NASAECM">{{cite web |title=ECM {{!}} Instruments - NASA's Europa Clipper |url=https://europa.nasa.gov/spacecraft/instruments/ecm/ |website=NASA |access-date=8 August 2022}}</ref>

The magnetometer team is led by [[Biography:Margaret G. Kivelson|Margaret Kivelson]], with Xianzhe Jia serving as deputy team leader.<ref name="NASAECM" />

==Overview==
[[File:ECM boom.jpg|thumb|upright=1.0|right|An exact replica of the boom that will be used for the magnetometer aboard Europa Clipper, designed as a test model.<ref name="NASABOOM"/>]]
The ECM is a highly sensitive and precise [[Physics:Magnetometer|magnetometer]] used to measure small changes in the characteristics of Europa's magnetic field, studying how they vary according to time and location. The instrument will be stowed in a canister at launch, and will have a total of three flux-gate sensors attached to it. It will deploy to its full length of 8.5 meters (25 feet) in the days after launch.<ref name="NASAECM" /><ref name="NASAFLUX"/>

The spacecraft contains over 300 individual sources of magnetic interference, such as magnets in the propulsion valves, and current loops in the solar arrays. As a result, the instrument will be mounted on an 8.5 meter boom to reduce the effect of this contamination, but will still need to be carefully calibrated in order to account for the effects of these artificial sources.<ref>{{cite web |title=Magnetic Field of the Europa Clipper Spacecraft - NASA's Europa Clipper |url=https://europa.nasa.gov/resources/176/magnetic-field-of-the-europa-clipper-spacecraft/ |website=NASA |access-date=8 August 2022}}</ref>
[[File:ECM-Fluxgate-Sensor-Large.jpg|thumb|upright=1.0|right|One of the three fluxgate sensors that will be mounted along the boom.<ref name="NASAFLUX"/>]]

Originally, a more complex multi-frequency magnetometer ([[Engineering:Interior Characterization of Europa using Magnetometry|ICEMAG]]) was planned for inclusion aboard Europa Clipper. This instrument was ultimately scrapped, and later replaced with ECM due to cost overruns.<ref>{{cite web |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/ |website=NASA |date=5 March 2019 |access-date=8 August 2022}}</ref>

==Objectives==
The primary objectives of the ECM instrument are:

* Confirm the existence of a subsurface ocean under Europa's icy surface
* If an ocean does exist, accurately measure its depth and salinity
* Characterize the ice shell by determining its thickness

== See also ==
* [[Astronomy:Large strategic science missions|Large strategic science missions]]
* {{annotated link|Astronomy:Europa Orbiter}}
* {{annotated link|Astronomy:Europa Lander}}
* {{annotated link|Astronomy:Exploration of Jupiter}}
* {{annotated link|Astronomy:Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer}}
* {{annotated link|Astronomy:Jupiter Icy Moons Orbiter}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Europa Clipper}}
{{Europa}}
{{Jupiter}}
{{Astrobiology}}
{{Satellite and spacecraft instruments}}
{{Future spaceflights}}

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

{{Sourceattribution|Europa Clipper Magnetometer}}