NASA, the American space agency, has announced plans to send two research missions: the Europa Clipper to Jupiter’s moon Europa, and the Artemis II program, which aims to return humans to the Moon and prepare for further space travel, such as a mission to Mars.
The Europa Clipper mission – exploring Jupiter’s moon Europa
The Europa Clipper mission aims to investigate one of Jupiter’s largest moons – Europa. This moon is slightly smaller than Earth’s moon and has a surface composed of ice. Underneath the icy shell, scientists suspect the existence of salty water, which may contain more than twice as much water as all the oceans on Earth combined. By flying past Europa over 50 times and studying its geology and subsurface ocean, scientists will search for active geysers that eject water. The mission is scheduled to launch in 2030 on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket.
The Artemis II program – returning to the Moon and further space travel
The Artemis II program aims to return to the Moon and prepare NASA for future space travels, including missions to Mars. The program’s name comes from Apollo’s sister in Greek mythology. The plan includes sending the first woman and the first person of color to the Moon, which will happen for the first time since 1972. The Artemis II program also involves plans for longer stays in space. The first crewed step in this plan, with four astronauts on board, is set to take place in November 2024. The astronauts will be introduced into orbit around the Moon before returning to Earth.
FAQ:
- What is Europa Clipper?
Europa Clipper is a spacecraft sent by NASA to explore Jupiter’s moon, Europa. The mission aims to fly past Europa, study its surface, geology, and subsurface ocean. - What is the start date of the Europa Clipper mission?
The Europa Clipper mission is planned to start in 2030. - What is the Artemis II program?
The Artemis II program is NASA’s plan to return to the Moon and prepare for further space travel, including a mission to Mars. The program also involves sending the first woman and the first person of color to the Moon.
Sources:
- NASA.gov
- SpaceX.com
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