Live Coverage – Nemeth/Star Productions

Europa Clipper solar arrays are fully deployed and work as expected.

Europa Clipper is on it's way to Jupiter's Moon Europa. That's all for now from our live coverage. We thank you for your attention. See you next time. Clear skies and bye bye.

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Video: NASA TV

Video: NASA TV

Video: NASA TV

Video: NASA TV

Gravity/Radio Science equipment will measure how Europa’s shape and its gravity field change as the moon’s non-circular orbit carries it closer, then farther, from Jupiter. These measurements at various points in the moon’s orbit will show how Europa flexes and help reveal its internal structure.

More instruments:
Surface Dust Analyzer (SUDA) will identify the chemistry of material emitted from Europa’s surface by tiny meteorite impacts. A subsurface ocean or reservoirs might also vent material into space as plumes and offer clues to Europa’s ocean salinity.

Europa Clipper is successfully launched and on it's way to Jupiter's icy moon Europa. In a few hours the anchoring are cut to spread out the solar panels.

We have a sold data stream and all systems and telemetry are online.

And we a confirmation of signal from Europa Clipper.

We have a successful separation of Europa Clipper. We waiting for signal from the Deep Space Network now.

Separation of Europa Clipper in around 2 minutes.

Second burn was successfully. We have video connection from Europa Clipper again. Next step is the separation of Europa Clipper from the second stage.

Because the data is transferred via the telemetry system network and not via the Deep Space Network, we have a much lower data rates, not enough to transfer video through it.

We are getting ready for the second burn. It's a longer burn (more than 3 minutes) than the first one to bring Europa Clipper to interplanetary orbit. We can't see the burn on live pictures at the moment but we have live telemetry.

Mass Spectrometer for Planetary Exploration/Europa (MASPEX) will analyze gases — both in Europa’s faint atmosphere and in possible plumes. It will study the chemistry of the moon’s suspected subsurface ocean, how ocean and surface exchange material, and how radiation alters compounds on the moon’s surface.

The camera on Europa Clipper has the same sensors as an iPhone X, but modified for this mission to create pictures in the magnetic environment around Europa and Jupiter.

Radar for Europa Assessment and Sounding: Ocean to Near-surface (REASON) is an ice-penetrating radar that will probe Europa’s icy shell for reflections from the moon’s suspected ocean and study the ice’s structure and thickness. It will also study the moon’s surface topography, composition, and roughness.

More instruments:
Plasma Instrument for Magnetic Sounding (PIMS) will separate distortions due to charged particles from Europa’s induced magnetic field, which carries information about Europa’s ocean. Europa’s ionosphere and plasma trapped in Jupiter’s magnetic field distort magnetic fields near Europa.

2.6 million people signed the Message in the Bottle message that is added as a chip to the plate flying with Europa Clipper. Also our names are flying to Europa today.

Stage 2 is now flying above southern Africa (Namibia and Central South Africa). Telemetry is now coming from Cape Town ground station.

We have reached the proposed orbit before the second burn.

Things looking very well. First burn is completed. Soon the second stage will fire to bring Europa Clipper to interplanetary orbit.

main engine cut-off successful. Fairing separation successful.

Side Booster separation successful. Power trajectory is nominal. 20 seconds to cut off the main engine.

trajectory is good.

Falcon Heavy is supersonic.

We have a lift off. Europa Clipper on it's way.

30 seconds to launch.

We are ready for launch. Everything on the second stage is fine. Filling of locks-load is done. All boosters are filled.

4 minutes to launch.

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The moon Europa only needs 3.5 days to orbit Jupiter. That's very fast.

Europa Clipper will first flyby at Mars and again on Earth until it will fly to Europa.

Less than 10 minutes to launch. Europa Clipper is now on internal power. Propellant load is completed.

Photo: NASA TV

We expect some land under the ocean of Europa. It most properly looks like the rocky environment of our ocean soil.

Photo: NASA TV

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Europa Clipper is primarily looking for a region on Europa that can habitat life.

Europa has as twice as much water under it's icy surface than Earth. The ice layer is around 15 miles thick. Europa homes a global ocean and no light reaches the ice through the crust.

We are around 30 minutes to launch now.

The loading of the second stage has begun. No problems so far. This is only the 11th launch of a Falcon Heavy but Space X has already fulfilled 450 launches since it's start.

Once arrived Europa Clipper will orbit the Jupiter moon Europa in an Orval orbit. A very close orbit to collect the data under the influence of Jupiter's magnetic field. And an orbit more far away from Europa and outside of Jupiter's magnetic field to send the collected data back to Earth and to do further science investigations. The download signal needs around 45 minutes to reach Earth.

Europa Clipper will need 2 gravity assists from Mars and Earth.

Europa Clipper is huger than a basketball field when it's solar arrays are fully deployed. It's the biggest space probe built by humans.

First Falcon Heavy launch with a new locks-farm making launches much easier and faster to prepare.

The cables are covered in a big wall of wool and extra protected with isolation (by hand) to protect them from the magnetic interference in Jupiter's environment.

More to the instruments:
Europa Clipper Magnetometer (ECM) will study Europa’s magnetic field and aims to confirm that Europa’s ocean exists, measure its depth and salinity, and measure the moon’s ice-shell thickness. It will also study Europa’s ionized atmosphere and how it interacts with Jupiter and its magnetic field.

Space X developed a full automation for launch preparations. Everything from filling to launch is automated.

In the mission control center the preparations are started to connect Europa Clipper with the NASA Deep Space Network to get straight connection to the space probe after it is free to fly to Europa.

The second stage had a burn error last week but this was solved by NASA and Space X and the second stage can be used again today.
We also got a "Go" for filling the rocket and it will start now.

The weather in Florida is fine. No bad winds. Teams are getting ready and soon the filling of the rocket will start.
The second stage used today is the same that brought Space X Crew 9 to space last week.

NASA teams are working on this mission since 25 years.

Europa Clipper will be on it's way for 5 and half years to Europa.
Space X is about to start to fill the fuel tanks of the rocket soon.
Launch time is 18:06 CEST.

The Jupiter moon Europa is the most likely object in our solar system to detect life outside of the Earth.

We will continue with the instruments a bit later. We are now 68 minutes to launch.
Europa Clipper will launch with a Felcon Heavy at pad 39A.

Mapping Imaging Spectrometer for Europa (MISE) is the mission’s infrared spectrometer that will map the composition and distribution of ices, salts, organics, and the warmest hotspots on Europa. The maps will help scientists understand the moon’s geologic history and determine if Europa’s suspected ocean is suitable for life.

Europa Ultraviolet Spectrograph (Europa-UVS) will help determine the composition of Europa’s atmospheric gases and surface materials by collecting spectra and images with an ultraviolet telescope. It will also search near Europa for signs of plume activity.

Europa Thermal Emission Imaging System (E-THEMIS) is a thermal imager that uses infrared light to distinguish warmer regions on Europa where liquid water may be near the surface or might have erupted onto the surface. It will also measure surface texture to understand the small-scale properties of the surface.

We collected a summary of what these instruments do from the NASA website.

Europa Imaging System (EIS) is a wide-angle camera and a narrow-angle camera, each with an eight-megapixel sensor, that will produce high-resolution color and stereoscopic images of Europa. They will study geologic activity, measure surface elevations, and provide context for other instruments.

Europa Clipper hosts 10 scientific instruments in investigate the surface and surroundings of the Jupiter moon Europa.

Our live coverage starts in around 10 minutes. Launch is expected for 17:06 from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

NASA confirmed the Europa Clipper launch for today at 18:06 CEST.

Our live coverage will start at 16:45 CEST on BlueSky and on our website.

NASA has announced that they are now targeting Monday, October 14th 2024 as new launch date for Europa Clipper. There is no 100% confirmation and launch time yet. We will keep you updated.

#NASA has postponed the launch of #EuropaClipper this Thursday due to bad weather conditions of hurricane Milton. As soon as the space port is secured after the hurricane has left the area, NASA will announce a nee launch date. The launch 🚀 window for Europa Clipper is open from Oct. 10 to Nov 6.

Welcome to our Live Coverage of the Launch of NASA’s Europa Clipper space probe on it’s way to Jupiters Moon Europa.

Our live coverage will start here and on BlueSky.

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