1. Bethany, Jay, and Michael
Europa Clipper
Bethany, Jay, and Michael

2. Europa Background Galilean moon of Jupiter
Roughly the size of Earth’s moon
Surface of fractured water ice (~40-90 Myr)
Earth-like
Iron core
Rocky mantle
Thought to have a deep planetary ocean

3. Europa Background Galilean moon of Jupiter
Roughly the size of Earth’s moon
Surface of fractured water ice (~40-90 Myr)
Earth-like
Iron core
Rocky mantle
Thought to have a deep planetary ocean

4. Evidence for an Ocean Strange magnetic field Conductive fluid
Surface ice means potentially saltwater
Surface cracking suggests fluid affected by tides

5. Evidence for Volcanic/Hydrothermal Activity
Oceanic tides could create volcanic/hydrothermal activity
Water plumes observed by Hubble in 2013
Surface pits and domes suggest ice convection

6. Research Goals Photograph surface, determine composition
Measure ice shell thickness, search for subsurface lakes (like Antarctica)

7. Research Goals Determine ocean depth and salinity
Search for warm-water eruptions

8. Research Goals Analyze composition of water plumes
Relates to habitability
Minimizes need to drill through ice

9. Mission Importance
Europa’s potential for producing hydrogen and oxygen
Relation to Earth
Habitability
Volcanism
Serpentinization
Hydrothermal vents
Jupiter’s gravity
Oxidant Cycling

10. Mission Importance
Europa’s potential for producing hydrogen and oxygen
Relation to Earth
Habitability
Volcanism
Serpentinization
Hydrothermal vents
Jupiter’s gravity
Oxidant Cycling

11. Mission Importance
Europa’s potential for producing hydrogen and oxygen
Relation to Earth
Habitability
Volcanism
Serpentinization
Hydrothermal vents
Jupiter’s gravity
Oxidant Cycling

12. How? Orbiter Magnetometer Magnetic field Depth, salinity of ocean
Thermal instrument
Warm water eruptions

13. How? Orbiter Radar Ice thickness Existence of lakes Spectrometers
Surface composition
Cameras

14. How? Lander Mass spectrometer Raman spectrometer Surface composition
Still being discussed by scientific community

15. Mission Logistics Aim to launch sometime in the 2020’s
Arriving in Jupiter system after a journey of several years
Conduct flybys in orbit
Map Europa’s composition, determine characteristics of ocean and ice shell, and develop understanding of geology
Image the surface at high resolution

16. Mission Logistics Aim to launch sometime in the 2020’s
Arriving in Jupiter system after a journey of several years
Conduct flybys in orbit
Map Europa’s composition, determine characteristics of ocean and ice shell, and develop understanding of geology
Image the surface at high resolution

17. Flyby Logistics
Once into orbit spacecraft will conduct around 45 close flybys
Around every two weeks
Flybys altitude ranges from 1700 miles to 16 miles above the surface

18. Earth Importance
Europa’s potential for producing Hydrogen and Oxygen thought to be comparable to Earth
Develops understanding of movement of energy and nutrients of our own ocean on Earth

19. Earth Importance
Europa’s potential for producing Hydrogen and Oxygen thought to be comparable to Earth
Develops understanding of movement of energy and nutrients of our own ocean on Earth

20. Earth Sustainability
Even without volcanic activity on Europa, hydrogen production could still be present through serpentinization
Allowing ocean to be oxidized
Important process to explore that isn’t present on earth that creates building blocks for life