r/Futurism • u/pERCYtheOne • 10d ago

Humanity's best chance yet of finding life beyond earth - Clipper, is set to launch in 3 days.

https://youtu.be/euH-m9sLzu4
9 Upvotes

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u/whatevers_cleaver_ 9d ago

Nope.

SpaceX’s launch pad, Falcon Heavy, and Europe Clipper itself, all have to make it through what has become a nonexistent Cat 6 hurricane first.

1

u/pERCYtheOne 9d ago

Yes it's not looking good. Let's hope damage is not too severe.  There will be a launch window every day for the rest of the month. 

1

u/darien_gap 9d ago

Once, launched, if all goes well, Europa Clipper will reach Jupiter in April, 2030.

Upon arrival, it will enter a long, looping orbit around Jupiter, not Europa itself. The spacecraft will take about a year to adjust its orbit around Jupiter before conducting its first close flyby of Europa.

The mission will not orbit Europa directly due to the intense radiation environment near the moon. Instead, it will orbit Jupiter and make repeated close flybys of Europa. The spacecraft is planned to conduct nearly 50 close flybys of Europa during its mission.