NASA Launches Europa Clipper To Explore Jupiter’s Ocean World For Signs Of Life, Habitability
NASA's Europa Clipper spacecraft, designed to explore Jupiter’s moon Europa, launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket on Monday at 12:06 p.m. ET from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, according to a live stream on NASA’s website. The mission aims to study the ice-covered moon, considered one of the solar system’s most promising environments for potential life.
The launch, initially set for October 10, was delayed due to Hurricane Milton. After thorough evaluations of the launch facilities, crews cleared the spacecraft for liftoff. Mike McAleenan, launch weather officer at the 45th Weather Squadron of the US Space Force, confirmed that weather conditions were 95% favourable for the launch, CNN reported.
Leaving our water world, to explore another 🚀@EuropaClipper launched from @NASAKe...