Nasa is set to launch one of its most ambitious planetary missions to date. The launch of the Europa Clipper spacecraft will take place on Monday.
The mission, targeting Jupiter's icy moon Europa, aims to explore the potential for habitability in one of the solar system's most intriguing ocean worlds.
The Europa Clipper is scheduled to lift off at 9.36 pm IST from Launch Complex 39A at Nasa's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
A SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket will propel the spacecraft on its 2.9 billion kilometres journey to the Jovian system.
The $5 billion mission will investigate Europa's potential to harbour conditions suitable for life beneath its icy crust.
Scientists believe Europa contains a vast subsurface ocean with more water than all of Earth's oceans combined, making it a prime target in the search for extraterrestrial life.
The spacecraft, Nasa's largest ever developed for a planetary mission, is equipped with nine state-of-the-art instruments.
These include high-resolution cameras, an ice-penetrating radar, and a magnetometer, all designed to study Europa's composition, geology, and the nature of its ice shell and underlying ocean.
Upon reaching Jupiter in April 2030, Europa Clipper will perform 49 close flybys of Europa, swooping as low as 16 miles above the moon's surface6. This orbital dance will allow the spacecraft to scan nearly the entire moon while minimising its exposure to Jupiter's intense radiation belts.
The mission faced a brief delay due to Hurricane Milton, which battered Florida earlier this week. However, Nasa officials have confirmed that damage to the Kennedy Space Center was manageable, allowing the launch preparations to proceed.
As the launch window opens on Monday, scientists and space enthusiasts worldwide will be watching with anticipation.
The Europa Clipper mission represents a significant step in our quest to understand the potential for life beyond Earth and could pave the way for future exploration of ocean worlds in our solar system.
