NASA Launches Europa Clipper Mission to Explore Jupiter’s Moon Written 15 October 2024
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Ars Technica reports, “NASA's Europa Clipper spacecraft lifted off Monday from Kennedy Space Center in Florida aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket, kicking off a $5.2 billion robotic mission to explore one of the most promising locations in the Solar System for finding extraterrestrial life. The Falcon Heavy rocket fired its 27 kerosene-fueled engines and vaulted away from Launch Complex 39A at 12:06 pm EDT (16:06 UTC) Monday. Delayed several days due to Hurricane Milton, which passed through Central Florida late last week, the launch of Europa Clipper signaled the start of a five-and-a-half year journey to Jupiter, where the spacecraft will settle into an orbit taking it repeatedly by one the giant planet's numerous moons.”
Full Story (Ars Technica)
More Info (AIAA Statement)
Video
NASA's Europa Clipper Launch (Launch at 1:06:40 mark)
(NASA; YouTube)