Science Overview of the Europa Clipper Mission

Abstract

The goal of NASA’s Europa Clipper mission is to assess the habitability of Jupiter’s moon Europa. After entering Jupiter
orbit in 2030, the flight system will collect science data while flying past Europa 49 times at typical closest approach distances
of 25–100 km. The mis- sion’s objectives are to investigate Europa’s interior (ice shell and ocean), composition, and geology;
the mission will also search for and characterize any current activity including possible plumes. The science objectives will
be accomplished with a payload consisting of remote sensing and in-situ instruments. Remote sensing investigations cover
the ultraviolet, visible, near infrared, and thermal infrared wavelength ranges of the electromagnetic spec- trum, as well as an
ice-penetrating radar. In-situ investigations measure the magnetic field, dust grains, neutral gas, and plasma surrounding Europa.
Gravity science will be achieved using the telecommunication system, and a radiation monitoring engineering subsystem
will provide complementary science data. The flight system is designed to enable all science in- struments to operate and gather
data simultaneously. Mission planning and operations are guided by scientific requirements and observation strategies, while appropriate
updates to the plan will be made tactically as the instruments and Europa are characterized and dis- coveries emerge.
Following collection and validation, all science data will be archived in NASA’s Planetary Data System. Communication, data
sharing, and publication policies pro- mote visibility, collaboration, and mutual interdependence across the full Europa Clipper
science team, to best achieve the interdisciplinary science necessary to understand Europa.