Hurricane Milton caused NASA to delay the launch of the Europa Clipper, a spacecraft intended to explore Jupiter’s moon Europa for signs of life. Despite the storm passing, the agency needed to ensure the launch site was safe before proceeding with preparations. Europa is of interest to scientists due to its potential to support life, with a vast ocean beneath its icy surface. The Clipper mission aims to gather data about Europa’s subsurface and conditions that could support life. The spacecraft, powered by massive solar arrays, is the largest ever developed by NASA for a planetary mission. The six-year journey to Europa will involve close flybys to gather and relay data back to Earth. The mission is not focused on finding life itself but rather understanding the conditions that could support it. The spacecraft is equipped with nine observational instruments to study Europa’s geology, atmosphere, and potential for life. The Clipper is scheduled to enter Jupiter’s orbit in 2030 after using the gravity of Mars and Earth to gain speed for the journey. Despite delays caused by Hurricane Milton, NASA is working to ensure a successful launch window for the Europa Clipper mission.
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