NASA and SpaceX Postpone Europa Clipper Launch Due to Hurricane

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Key Takeaways

  • NASA and SpaceX postponed the Europa Clipper liftoff due to Hurricane Milton.
  • The spacecraft is secured in SpaceX’s hangar amid hurricane safety measures.
  • The launch period is set from October 10 to November 6.

NASA and SpaceX have postponed the launch of the Europa Clipper mission, originally planned for October 10, because of expected hurricane conditions.

Hurricane Milton is forecasted to deliver gusty winds and intense rain to Cape Canaveral and Merritt Island this week as it heads east from the Gulf of Mexico. NASA’s Europa Clipper spacecraft is secured in SpaceX’s hangar at Kennedy Space Center, and hurricane preparations began on October 6, as reported by NASA.

Workers moved the Europa Clipper spacecraft to SpaceX’s hangar located at Launch Complex 39A in Kennedy Space Center on October 4. The launch period begins on October 10 and extends until November 6.

Once the storm is over, recovery teams will review the spaceport’s safety before team members can come back and inspect the launch facilities for any damage.

The Objectives of the Europa Clipper Mission

The Europa Clipper mission, previously set to launch on October 10, 2024, aims to explore Jupiter’s moon Europa for potential life-supporting conditions. Europa is considered a strong candidate for life due to its water, essential elements, and energy sources from tidal flexing and radiation from Jupiter.

As NASA’s largest spacecraft developed for planetary exploration, Europa Clipper weighs over 3.2 tonnes, stands 5m tall, and expands to more than 30m wide with its deployed solar panels. Equipped with nine instruments, including cameras and spectrometers, it will perform nearly 50 flybys of Europa to gather high-resolution images and data on the moon’s surface and subsurface. This will aid in locating underwater thermal vents similar to those on Earth, potentially revealing energy and nutrient sources necessary for sustaining life.

The success of Europa Clipper could pave the way for future missions exploring life beyond Earth.