Europa Clipper: Spacecraft
Unique spacecraft to study Europa, moon of Jupiter. Meet Europa Clipper
A compelling and challenging target of study like Europa requires a special spacecraft. Equipped with expansive solar arrays, a suite of sophisticated science instruments, two dozen engines, and a radiation-hardened electronics vault, Europa Clipper is, when its solar arrays and antennas are fully deployed, the largest spacecraft NASA has ever built for a planetary mission.
Europa Clipper. NASA/JPL-Caltech
When stowed for launch, the spacecraft is about 15.5 feet (4.7 meters) tall, 10 feet (3 meters) wide, and 13 feet (4 meters) deep. With solar arrays fully deployed, Europa Clipper stretches over 100 feet (30.5 meters) wide, while the body and its radar antennas measure about 58 feet (17.6 meters) deep.
The heavy radiation environment at Jupiter is tough on spacecraft, so Europa Clipper has a metal vault with thickened walls to protect its sensitive electronics. The vault features a unique plate engraved with messages in the form of artwork and poetry, along with a microchip stenciled with more than 2.6 million names submitted by the public.
Combining elements from multiple NASA centers and partners, the spacecraft was assembled principally at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California. The propulsion module — the structure of the main spacecraft body — was designed and built at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Maryland, in collaboration with NASA’s Goddard Spaceflight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. Engineers at JPL then outfitted the module with key components, including nine science instruments, the electronics vault, and a high-gain antenna measuring 10 feet (3 meters) wide. Europa Clipper’s large solar arrays were added during final prelaunch preparations at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
At launch, the fully fueled Europa Clipper is expected to weigh approximately 12,800 pounds (about 5,800 kilograms). Over 6,060 pounds (about 2,750 kilograms) will be propellant.
