US space agency NASA has launched a spacecraft to explore Jupiter’s moon Europa to see if it has an environment that can support life.
A rocket carrying Europa Clipper was launched on Monday from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
The robotic solar-powered spacecraft weighs about 6 tons. With its solar arrays extended, it spans about 30 meters. The spacecraft will orbit Jupiter and make nearly 50 flybys of Europa to conduct detailed investigations.
Europa is about 90 percent the size of Earth’s Moon and is covered by ice. NASA says there is strong evidence of an ocean of liquid water beneath the icy crust.
Europa Clipper will use various observation instruments on board to confirm whether the ocean exists beneath the icy layer and analyze what kind of substances exist, with a goal of determining whether it has a habitable environment.
NASA said the spacecraft is scheduled to be put into Jupiter’s orbit in 2030 and gathering of Europa’s data is planned to fully start in 2031.