Science Overview of the Europa Clipper Mission
Authors: Pappalardo Robert T. , Buratti Bonnie J. , Korth Haje , Senske David A. , Blaney Diana L. , Blankenship Donald D. , Burch James L. , Christensen Philip R. , Kempf Sascha , Kivelson Margaret G. , Mazarico Erwan , Retherford Kurt D. , Turtle Elizabeth P. , Westlake Joseph H. , Paczkowski Brian G. , Ray Trina L. , Kampmeier Jennifer , Craft Kate L. , Howell Samuel M. , Klima Rachel L. , Leonard Erin J. , Matiella Novak Alexandra , Phillips Cynthia B. , Daubar Ingrid J. , Blacksberg Jordana , Brooks Shawn M. , Choukroun Mathieu N. , Cochrane Corey J. , Diniega Serina , Elder Catherine M. , Ernst Carolyn M. , Gudipati Murthy S. , Luspay-Kuti Adrienn , Piqueux Sylvain , Rymer Abigail M. , Roberts James H. , Steinbrügge Gregor , Cable Morgan L. , Scully Jennifer E. C. , Castillo-Rogez Julie C. , Hay Hamish C. F. C. , Persaud Divya M. , Glein Christopher R. , McKinnon William B. , Moore Jeffrey M. , Raymond Carol A. , Schroeder Dustin M. , Vance Steven D. , Wyrick Danielle Y. , Zolotov Mikhail Y. , Hand Kevin P. , Nimmo Francis , McGrath Melissa A. , Spencer John R. , Lunine Jonathan I. , Paty Carol S. , Soderblom Jason M. , Collins Geoffrey C. , Schmidt Britney E. , Rathbun Julie A. , Shock Everett L. , Becker Tracy C. , Hayes Alexander G. , Prockter Louise M. , Weiss Benjamin P. , Hibbitts Charles A. , Moussessian Alina , Brockwell Timothy G. , Hsu Hsiang-Wen , Jia Xianzhe , Gladstone G. Randall , McEwen Alfred S. , Patterson G. Wesley , McNutt Ralph L. , Evans Jordan P. , Larson Timothy W. , Cangahuala L. Alberto , Havens Glen G. , Buffington Brent B. , Bradley Ben , Campagnola Stefano , Hardman Sean H. , Srinivasan Jeffrey M. , Short Kendra L. , Jedrey Thomas C. , St. Vaughn Joshua A. , Clark Kevin P. , Vertesi Janet , Niebur Curt 
Published: May 2024

The goal of NASA’s Europa Clipper mission is to assess the habitability of Jupiter’s moon Europa. After entering Jupiter orbit in 2030, the flight system will collect science data while flying past Europa 49 times at typical closest approach distances of 25–100 km. The mission’s objectives are to investigate Europa’s interior (ice shell and ocean), composition, and geology; the mission will also search for and characterize any current activity including possible plumes. The science objectives will be accomplished with a payload consisting of remote sensing andin-situinstruments. Remote sensing investigations cover the ultraviolet, visible, near infrared, and thermal infrared wavelength ranges of the electromagnetic spectrum, as well as an ice-penetrating radar.In-situinvestigations measure the magnetic field, dust grains, neutral gas, and plasma surrounding Europa. Gravity science will be achieved using the telecommunication system, and a radiation monitoring engineering subsystem will provide complementary science data. The flight system is designed to enable all science instruments to operate and gather data simultaneously. Mission planning and operations are guided by scientific requirements and observation strategies, while appropriate updates to the plan will be made tactically as the instruments and Europa are characterized and discoveries emerge. Following collection and validation, all science data will be archived in NASA’s Planetary Data System. Communication, data sharing, and publication policies promote visibility, collaboration, and mutual interdependence across the full Europa Clipper science team, to best achieve the interdisciplinary science necessary to understand Europa.