The Search for Organic Life

A World beyond Our Own

Slated for launch in 2024, the Europa Clipper will be the first space mission dedicated to conducting a detailed study of an ocean world outside of our own — a world that likely harbors a salty ocean with twice as much water as Earth beneath its icy crust. Targeting Jupiter’s icy moon Europa, the mission aims to study this world’s atmosphere, surface and interior to understand whether its water, chemistry and energy could support life.

ETD’s Mission Engineering & System Analysis division, in conjunction with its propulsion branch, was a major player in bringing about the Europa Clipper’s Propulsion Subsystem (PSS). A critical component that provides the thrust necessary to get the Europa Clipper spacecraft to make its 390.4 million mile journey to Jupiter, as well as maintain the spacecraft’s orbit and maneuverability while in Jupiter’s orbit. Due to the complex nature of the mission, new technologies had to be developed as part of the project to ensure that the PSS will enable Europa Clipper’s success.

NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center also partnered with industry and other NASA centers to develop high pressure valves capable of withstanding Jupiter’s radiation environment and a venturi flowmeter that will measure the flow of propellant from the propellant tanks to the engines. This also meant that additional research had to be done so that we can better understand the formation of Iron Nitrate in propellant lines and components when an oxidizer comes in contact with stainless steel.

The Europa Clipper mission has the potential of unlocking a plethora of scientific knowledge and answering the question of how rare life is in the universe. Making certain that the survival and operation of the Europa Clipper is critical to its success.