Europa Clipper deploys solar arrays
"The process began with the cutting of hold-downs keeping the solar arrays folded against the sides of the spacecraft and then the unfolding of one 'wing' at a time," NASA officials wrote in an update this afternoon (Oct. 14). "With each wing measuring 46.5 feet (14 meters) long, Europa Clipper’s solar arrays are the biggest NASA has ever developed for a planetary mission."
Europa Clipper begins voyage to Jupiter
NASA's Europa Clipper spacecraft has begun its 1.8 billion-mile trek to Jupiter and appears to be working well after today's successful launch on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket. Read our full Europa Clipper launch wrap story.
Flight controllers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory operations center did report an apparent venting issue with the probe's propulsion system, but later added that the system was still performing as expected.
The next major milestone will be spacecraft solar array deployment, which is scheduled to occur about six hours after launch.
That will be a wrap for Space.com's launch coverage for Europa Clipper today. Thank you for joining us. We'll post mission updates as they are warranted, including for solar array deploy, on this page as we chronicle Europa Clipper's mission to Jupiter and its icy moon Europa.
Above you'll see a video of Europa Clipper's deployment. Here's a launch replay below.
Europa Clipper signal acquired
Europa Clipper flight controllers at NASA's operations center at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory report a successful signal acquisition after spacecraft separation. They have steady telemetry and are reviewing the spacecraft's systems.
Flight controllers reported an apparently vent failure on the spacecraft, which the team is looking into, but did say Europa Clipper's propulsion system does appear to still be working as planned.
Spacecraft separation! Europa Clipper flying on its own
The Europa Clipper has successfully separated from its SpaceX Falcon Heavy upper stage, with NASA's flight control team awaiting signal acquisition from the spacecraft.
The spacecraft is currently warming up two radios on board to phone home, NASA says.
Europa Clipper reaches parking orbit
SpaceX's Falcon Heavy rocket has successfully reached a parking orbit with NASA's Europa Clipper spacecraft after a smooth launch into space.
The Falcon Heavy second stage will coast for about 40 minutes, at which time it will fire its engine once more for about 3 minutes to send Europa Clipper on a trajectory beyond Earth.
Spacecraft deployment is scheduled for 1 hour and 2 minutes after liftoff, at about 1:08 p.m. EDT (1708 GMT).
LIFTOFF of Europa Clipper
LIFTOFF! NASA's Europa Clipper launches toward Jupiter atop SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket!
Poetry flying to Jupiter on Europa Clipper
NASA's Europa Clipper is not just carrying science experiments and instruments to Jupiter with today's launch.
Also riding aboard are millions of names of people who signed up to be added on a chip for the flight, as well as "A Poem for Europa" written by U.S. Poet Laureate Ada Limón. The poem is for everyone, she says.
"You know, I really hope that as we embark on this incredible voyage together, that we are reminded of the wonders all around us," Limón said.
SpaceX fueling Falcon Heavy for Europa Clipper launch
SpaceX has begun fueling its Falcon Heavy rocket's first core stage and side boosters with the RP-1 propellant (a rocket-grade kerosene) and liquid oxygen needed for today's launch.
With the liquid oxygen loading underway, if SpaceX has to delay today's launch for any reason, the next opportunity will now be 48 hours later on Wednesday due to the time needed gather more liquid oxygen, NASA says. NASA and SpaceX have until Nov. 6 to launch Europa Clipper to Jupiter.
SpaceX 'GO' for fueling for Europa Clipper launch
NASA launch director Tim Dunn has polled the NASA and SpaceX Falcon Heavy launch teams for today's Europa Clipper launch to ensure the rocket is ready for fueling. All systems, it seems, are go.
"We've got beautiful weather, a beautiful spacecraft and a great rocket," Dunn said as he started the poll as he checked with flight controllers, all of whom were "go" for launch. "The NASA Europa Clipper team is go for propellant load and go for launch."
Today's Europa Clipper launch is on track for 12:06 p.m. EDT (1606 GMT). There is a 95% chance of good weather at launch time, NASA has said.
Launch Day for Europa Clipper
It is launch day for NASA's Europa Clipper spacecraft!
The $5 billion probe is on track to launch toward Jupiter today, Oct. 14, at 12:06 p.m. EDT (1606 GMT) from NASA's Pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center. A SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket, with its triple-booster first stage, is providing the ride.
You'll be able to watch the Europa Clipper launch live online starting at 11 a.m. EDT (1500 GMT), but if you can't wait that long to get your Europa fix on, we've got you covered.
From "2010: The Year We Make Contact" to the 'Europa Report," don't miss our list of 4 must-see Jupiter movies to prepare for Europa Clipper by writer Jeff Spry. You may disagree with some of the choices, but I can assure you they're all fun film rides. (Especially "Europa Report," that one is awesome!).
Europa Clipper "GO" for launch
NASA and SpaceX are both "GO" to launch the Europa Clipper spacecraft toward Jupiter's moon Europa on Monday, Oct. 14, 2024 after days of delays caused by the impacts of Hurricane Milton on its Florida launch site.
Europa Clipper, a $5 billion flagship mission to an icy moon of Jupiter, is currently scheduled to lift off at 12:06 p.m. EDT (1606 GMT) from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida during a tiny 15-second launch window. There is a 95% chance of good weather at launch time, Space Force officials said. Read our full guide on when and how to watch Europa Clipper launch.
NASA originally hoped to launch Europa Clipper on Oct. 10, but decided along with SpaceX - which will launch the probe on a Falcon Heavy rocket - to push back the launch last week as Hurricane Milton approached. On Saturday (Oct. 12), the space center reopened for business and the Falcon Heavy carrying the probe returned to the launch pad by Sunday.
Europa Clipper is designed to reach the Jupiter system in April 2030 and spend four years making close flybys of Europa, one of the most promising places in our solar system for the search for life beyond Earth. Europe's dominant feature is its vast salty ocean contained under a thick ice crust, which sometimes escapes through vast water plumes.
NASA scientists will use Europa Clipper's instruments to better understand how habitable Europa may be.
In this space, we'll include the latest launch and mission updates on Europa Clipper during its long voyage to Jupiter. Check back on Oct. 14 for live launch coverage!
