NASA's Europa Clipper probe deploys instruments on journey to Jupiter

NASA's Europa Clipper probe has started deploying its scientific instruments as it travels to Jupiter. Launched on October 14, 2023, the spacecraft is designed to study Europa, which may have a subsurface ocean that could support life. The probe has successfully extended its magnetometer and radar antennas. The magnetometer will measure Europa's magnetic field, while the radar antennas will analyze the moon's icy crust. NASA is monitoring the deployment to ensure the instruments function properly. Upcoming milestones include gravity-assist maneuvers, with the first near Mars in March 2025. The spacecraft is expected to reach Jupiter in 2030 and will conduct 49 flybys of Europa starting in 2031 to gather data on its environment.