The probe will have to fly to the orbit of the satellite and, being in weightlessness, to understand whether life can exist on it. It is known that beneath the massive ice sheet is a giant ocean.
United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) reported that in October 2024 plans to launch a probe that should reach Europa - a natural satellite of Jupiter. Its purpose - will be to confirm or deny the presence on it conditions for the emergence of life. The project is called Europa Clipper.
The probe will take into outer space carrier rocket Falcon Heavy, developed by SpaceX. It should start on October 10 from the launch site in Florida. At the moment it is known that the satellite Europa is covered with ice, but under it hides an ocean, exceeding the Earth's in size twice.
In late August, SpaceX again postponed the launch of the tourist spacecraft Crew Dragon.
Earlier it was reported that on August 20, NASA had difficulties with the return of American astronauts from the ISS.