NASA science head optimistic Europa Clipper launches on schedule
- by SpaceNews
- Jul 16, 2024
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NASA/Kim Shiflett
BUSAN, South Korea — The head of NASA’s science directorate says she remains optimistic the Europa Clipper mission will launch on schedule in October despite concerns about the spacecraft’s electronics and its launch vehicle.
The $5 billion mission is scheduled to launch on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy during a three-week window that opens Oct. 10. The spacecraft will go into orbit around Jupiter in 2030 and make dozens of close approaches to Europa, an icy moon that has a potentially habitable subsurface ocean.
NASA announced July 11 that the mission was studying transistors on the spacecraft that may not have the level of radiation tolerance required for the mission, based on experience with similar components used elsewhere. Jupiter’s powerful magnetic field creates high doses of radiation in the form of charged particles for spacecraft in its vicinity, including around Europa.
“Testing data obtained so far indicates some transistors are likely to fail in the high-radiation environment near Jupiter and its moon Europa because the parts are not as radiation resistant as expected,” the agency stated. “The team is working to determine how many transistors may be susceptible and how they will perform in-flight. NASA is evaluating options for maximizing the transistors’ longevity in the Jupiter system.”
NASA did not disclose details on the options it was considering, other than a preliminary analysis would be completed in late July. Those options, industry sources said, could include replacing the transistors, which would mean that the mission would miss its October launch window.
An additional complication comes from the anomaly on a Falcon 9 launch late July 11 where the vehicle’s upper stage engine malfunctioned, deploying the rocket’s payload of Starlink satellites in an orbit too low for the spacecraft to survive. SpaceX has grounded the rocket while it investigates the failure, which also affects the Falcon Heavy with its similar upper stage.
Despite those challenges, Nicky Fox, NASA associate administrator for science, said she remains optimistic about the prospects of launching the mission on schedule. “We’re going to continue to charge towards the launch as long as we can, look at all of the options and make a decision,” she said in an interview after a talk at the Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) 45th Scientific Assembly here July 16.
She added there is no deadline short of the launch period itself for deciding to proceed with the launch. “We will keep marching towards that Oct. 10 launch window, and at some point that decision will be made for us.”
“I’m ever hopeful,” she said. “The team is working so hard, and they’re so motivated.”
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