Europa and NASA’s Europa Clipper
Mission
25 February 2016
Io
3.57 g/cc
Europa
2.97 g/cc
Ganymede
1.94 g/cc
Callisto
1.86 g/cc
Orbital Resonance
Io
Europa
Ganymede
Callisto
Tidal Heating
Europa: general characteristics
• Size:
– R = 1560.8±0.5 km
• Composition:
– silicate rock and H2O ice
• Interior:
•
water-ice crust and probably,
subsurface ocean, and an iron–nickel
core
• Surface:
– temperature averages about
110 K (−160 °C) at the
equator
and only 50 K (−220 °C) at the
poles -> water ice acts like rock
• Atmosphere:
– Tenuous, O2
Size:
R = 1560.8±0.5 km
Composition:
silicate rock and H2O ice
•Interior:
water-ice crust and probably, subsurface
ocean, and an iron–nickel core
Surface:
temperature averages about 110 K (−160
°C) at the equator
and only 50 K (−220 °C) at the poles ->
water ice acts like rock
Atmosphere:
Tenuous, O2
Europa: interior
Warm ice..or..liquid water?
or some combination?
Europa: surface
Conamara Chaos
mysterious “brown gunk” is
probably sea salt baked by
radiation ->
means underlying ocean is in
direct contact with rock and
enriched with potentially lifenurturing amounts of minerals
Compare to California’s San Andreas Fault
Europa
San Andreas Fault
Astypalaea Linea
“cycloid” ridges
daily
fracturing?
(120 miles across)
Icebergs?
(25 miles across)
Tilted ice blocks look like the Arctic
Ocean too…
Europa’s
surface
shows few
craters
multi-ring
impact structure
Few large impact
craters: ->
Suggests 60 Myr
surface age.
A couple of multiringed impacts: ->
Penetrated 20 km
thick ice!
Few large impact craters: ->
Suggests 60 Myr surface age.
A couple of multi-ringed impacts: ->
Penetrated 20 km thick ice!
Europa: ocean and atmosphere
• surface pressure of Europa's
atmosphere is 0.1 μPa, or
10−12 atm
• tenuous ionosphere
• H2, O2, O that escapes
Europa's gravity form a gas
torus in the vicinity of
Europa's orbit around
Jupiter -> feeds Jupiter’s
magnetospheric plasma
• A lot of water
• periodically occurring
plumes of water 200 km
high
Europa: potential habitability
• one of the top
locations in the Solar
System in terms of
potential habitability
and the possibility of
hosting life
Europa Multi-Flyby Mission
Science Briefing
Robert Pappalardo – Project Scientist, JPL
December 18th ,
Europa: Key to Icy World Habitability
•
A world of rock, ice, and
water the size of Earth’s
moon
The technical data in this document is controlled under the U.S. Export Regulations; release to foreign persons may require an export authorization. Pre-
Europa: Key to Icy World Habitability
•
A world of rock, ice, and
water the size of Earth’s
moon
•
One of the youngest
surfaces in the solar system
The technical data in this document is controlled under the U.S. Export Regulations; release to foreign persons may require an export authorization. Pre-
Europa: Key to Icy World Habitability
•
A world of rock, ice, and
water the size of Earth’s
moon
•
One of the youngest
surfaces in the solar system
•
Plentiful cryovolcanism
The technical data in this document is controlled under the U.S. Export Regulations; release to foreign persons may require an export authorization. Pre-
Europa: Key to Icy World Habitability
•
A world of rock, ice, and
water the size of Earth’s
moon
•
One of the youngest
surfaces in the solar system
•
Plentiful cryovolcanism
•
Possible geysers
and plumes
The technical data in this document is controlled under the U.S. Export Regulations; release to foreign persons may require an export authorization. Pre-
Europa: Key to Icy World Habitability
•
A world of rock, ice, and
water the size of Earth’s
moon
•
One of the youngest
surfaces in the solar system
•
Plentiful cryovolcanism
•
Possible geysers
and plumes
•
Earth-like global tectonic
activity
The technical data in this document is controlled under the U.S. Export Regulations; release to foreign persons may require an export authorization. Pre-
Europa: Key to Icy World Habitability
•
A world of rock, ice, and
water the size of Earth’s
moon
•
One of the youngest
surfaces in the solar system
•
Plentiful cryovolcanism
•
Possible geysers
and plumes
•
Earth-like global tectonic
activity
•
Widespread surface
disruption
The technical data in this document is controlled under the U.S. Export Regulations; release to foreign persons may require an export authorization. Pre-
Europa: Key to Icy World Habitability
•
A world of rock, ice, and
water the size of Earth’s
moon
•
One of the youngest
surfaces in the solar system
•
Plentiful cryovolcanism
•
Possible geysers
and plumes
•
Earth-like global tectonic
activity
•
Widespread surface
disruption
•
Surface chemistry of salts
and acid
The technical data in this document is controlled under the U.S. Export Regulations; release to foreign persons may require an export authorization. Pre-
Europa: Key to Icy World Habitability
•
A world of rock, ice, and
water the size of Earth’s
moon
•
One of the youngest
surfaces in the solar system
•
Plentiful cryovolcanism
•
Possible geysers
and plumes
•
Earth-like global tectonic
activity
•
Widespread surface
disruption
•
Surface chemistry of salts
and acid
•
Subsurface ocean: our Solar
System’s best chance for
extant life beyond Earth?
The technical data in this document is controlled under the U.S. Export Regulations; release to foreign persons may require an export authorization. Pre-
Habitability: Ingredients for Life
Water
• Probable saltwater ocean, implied by surface
geology and magnetic field
• Possible lakes within the ice shell, produced by
local melting
Chemistry
• Ocean in direct contact with mantle rock,
promoting chemical leaching
• Dark red surface materials contain salts,
probably from the ocean
Energy
• Chemical energy could sustain life
• Surface irradiation creates oxidants
• Mantle rock-water reactions could
create reductants
Geological activity “stirs the pot”
Europa Flyby Mission will verify
key habitability hypotheses
The technical data in this document is controlled under the U.S. Export Regulations; release to foreign persons may require an export
~ 100 K
Europa Mission Science Goal & Objectives
The technical data in this document is controlled under the U.S. Export Regulations; release to foreign persons may require an export authorization. Pre-
Discussion Topics
• What experiments would you take to Europa
to find the water and search for life? Talk with
those near you and make a short list.
• Would you land on Europa? Why or why not?
• Where would you land?
Project Briefing
Barry Goldstein – Project Manager, JPL
December 18th ,
Europa Multiple-Flyby Mission Payload:
Simultaneous Synergistic Observations
Europa-UVS
EIS
Narrow-Angle Camera
Wide-Angle Camera
alien landscape in 3D
UV Spectrograph
surface & plume/atmosphere
composition
ICEMAG
Magnetometer
sensing ocean properties
PIMS
Faraday Cups
sampling the plasma
environment
MASPEX
Mass Spectrometer
sniffing the atmosphere
MISE
IR Spectrometer
surface chemical
fingerprints
E-THEMIS
SUDA
Thermal Imager
searching for hot spots
& preparing for future
landing
Dust Analyzer
surface & plume
composition
REASON
Ice-Penetrating Radar
plumbing the ice shell
remote
sensing
Telecom System
Gravity Science
confirming an ocean
in situ
measurements
The technical data in this document is controlled under the U.S. Export Regulations; release to foreign persons may require an export authorization. Pre-
Europa Multi-Flyby Mission Concept Overview
Science
Science Investigations
Objective
Description
Acronym
Instrument
Ice Shell & Ocean
Characterize the ice shell and any subsurface water, including their heterogeneity,
and the nature of surface-ice-ocean exchange
REASON
Ice Penetrating Radar
MISE
Composition
Understand the habitability of Europa's ocean through composition and
chemistry.
Shortwave Infrared
Spectrometer
EIS
Geology
Understand the formation of surface features, including sites of recent or current
activity, and characterize high science interest localities.
Topographical Imager /
Reconnaissance Camera
MASPEX
Mass Spectrometer
Recon
Characterize scientifically compelling sites, and hazards for a potential future
landed mission to Europa
E-THEMIS
Thermal Imager
ICE-MAG
Magnetometer
PiMS
Faraday Cups
Europa-UVS
Ultra-Violet Spectrometer
SUDA
Dust Detector
GS
Gravity Science
Mission Plan
Key Technical Margins
*31 - 35%
40%
Mass
Power
* - Depending on Launch Opportunity and Launch Vehicle
Earliest Launch Opportunity
June 6, 2022
Earliest Jupiter Arrival
March 5, 2025
Science Tour
45 Europa Flybys
Primary Mission End
December 6, 2028
http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/europa
The technical data in this document is controlled under the U.S. Export Regulations; release to foreign persons may require an export authorization. Pre-
Europa Science
• All instruments desire global
observations and measurements
Sub-
Leading
SubJupiter
Anti-Jupiter
Sub-JovianJupiter
Hemisphere
Anti-Jupiter
Anti-Jovian Hemisphere
Sub-Jovian Hemisphere
9
0
N
Sun
Trailing
Sub-Jupiter
6
0
N
Leading
Trailing
3
0
N
0
SubJupiter
SubJupiter
AntiJupiter
AntiJupiter
3
0
S
Leading
Trailing
6
0
S
9
0
S
3
6
0
W
3
3
0
W
3
0
0
W
2
7
0
W
Trailing
2
4
0
W
2
1
0
W
1
8
0
W
1
5
0
W
1
2
0
W
9
0
W
6
0
W
3
0
W
!
0
Sub-Jupiter
Leading
Leading
Trailing
Anti-Jupiter
The technical data in this document is controlled under the U.S. Export Regulations; release to foreign persons may require an export authorization. Pre-
Radiation Accumulation - 1
Radiation is only accumulated during Europa encounters
The technical data in this document is controlled under the U.S. Export Regulations; release to foreign persons may require an export authorization. Pre-
Option A (EELV Launch):
EVEEGA Trajectory and Jovian Tour
Transit to Jupiter  7 years, 7 months
The technical data in this document is controlled under the U.S. Export Regulations; release to foreign persons may require an export authorization. Pre-
Option B (SLS Launch):
Direct-to-Jupiter Trajectory & Jovian Tour
Transit to Jupiter  2 years, 9 months
The technical data in this document is controlled under the U.S. Export Regulations; release to foreign persons may require an export authorization. Pre-
Current Jupiter Delivery Strategy
BASELINE
Launch Vehicle: SLS Block-1
Transfer: Earth-Jupiter Direct
Time-of-flight: 2.5-2.7 yrs.
SECONDARY
Launch Vehicle: Atlas V 551 or Delta IV Heavy
Transfer: EVEEGA
Time-of-flight: 7.4 yrs.
JOI
(5-Mar-2025)
VGA
EGA-3
(26-Nov-2023)
(22-Oct-2026)
EGA-2
SLS
2022 Direct
(2.72 years)
(21-Oct-2024)
EGA-1
Launch(17-Jun-2023)
JOI
(15-Jan-2030)
Launch
(17-Jun-2022)
(6-Jun-2022)
Jupiter
Orbit
Jupiter
Orbit
Mass Margin
35% - 2022 Launch
33% - 2023 Launch
Mass Margin
Delta IV Heavy*
Atlas V 551
31%
32%
2022 Launch
2023 Launch
31%
32%
*Same spacecraft design, significantly under-utilize L.V. capability
The technical data in this document is controlled under the U.S. Export Regulations; release to foreign persons may require an export authorization. Pre-
Outer Planet S/C
Galileo
Launch Mass: 2,562 kg
Cassini
Launch Mass: 5,655 kg
Europa Multi-Flyby
*Launch Mass: 4,915kg
*-Atlas V-551 mass limit
The technical data in this document is controlled under the U.S. Export Regulations; release to foreign persons may require an export authorization. Pre-
Flight System
S/C Height  4.6m
Solar Array Width  20.4m
MASPEX
EIS-WAC
E-THEMIS
UVS
PIMS (1 of 2)
SUDA
3m HGA
ICEMAG
5m boom
EIS-NAC
MISE
Panels (8) 2.2m x 4.1m each
~72 m2 area
17.5m REASON Antenna
The technical data in this document is controlled under the U.S. Export Regulations; release to foreign persons may require an export authorization. Pre-Decisional
Information — For Planning and Discussion Purposes Only
Europa Spacecraft Overview
Power
•57m2 (cell area) providing 570 W at end of mission
•205 Ah Battery for eclipses, TCM, & flybys
•Single axis gimbaled arrays
Propulsion
•Bipropellant MMH/NTO/MON-3 propulsion subsystem
•1675 m/s; 2200 kg propellant
•16 x 22 N main engines, 5.5 hour JOI
•8 x 22 N RCS thrusters; 1.16 m diameter tanks
Avionics
•RAD750 flight computer and 512 Gb data storage
Telecom
•X-band: Uplink & 20W Downlink
•Ka-band: 35 W Downlink (85 kbps @ max range)
•3-m HGA, MGA, fan beam (3) and LGA (2)
Control
• 3-axis: Reaction wheels(4), RCS thrusters(cruise)
• Pointing Ka 1 mrad, Europa Nadir 7 mrad
• Star trackers(2), IMU(2), sun sensors(6)
Thermal
•Active thermal pump loop, MLI, heaters, radiators,
•Avionics heat reclamation – minimizes electrical heaters
Structure
•4.55 m tall x 3 m wide (stowed)
•Non-load bearing tanks, nadir platform
•Deploy solar array, REASON, & ICEMAG
•Vault significantly reduces total dose to electronics
Large Spacecraft Margins Provided
15F10 Tour
2022 SLS Launch
V10.3 Spacecraft
Mass Margin
Power Margin
31-35%
40%
The technical data in this document is controlled under the U.S. Export Regulations; release to foreign persons may require an export authorization. Pre-Decisional
Information — For Planning and Discussion Purposes Only
“Orbit-in-the-Life” of Europa Clipper
Example shown for a 14-day
transfer, which is the shortest
duration transfer between
subsequent Europa flybys for the
current tour (13F7).
The technical data in this document is controlled under the U.S. Export Regulations; release to foreign persons may require an export authorization. Pre-
Summary
• Many of the icy bodies in the outer Solar System
are internally differentiated
• Thanks to tidal heating, Europa and Enceladus
may have a liquid ocean between the icy crust
and the rocky core
• Warm rock in contact with water heats it: this
starts convection. Hot water can emerge from
cracks in the surface: this provides chemical
energy for possible life
• If Earth life arose at hydrothermal vents, it could
happen there, too. Also light can reach into the
cracks, possibly allowing temporary
photosynthesis