The Astrobiology Web Presents:

Europa Ice Clipper
A Proposed Discovery Mission

Photo: NASA/JPL [Larger 99K GIF]		 NOTE: The following information was either obtained from news sources or provided to the Astrobiology Web by the Prinicpal Investigator on this proposed mission with their permission to distribute it freely as we deemed appropriate. No proprietary information has been obtained or used in the preparation of this summary. This is not an official NASA or JPL website and, as such, the information presented here is in no way endorsed or validated by NASA or JPL. Neither the Astrobiology Web or Reston Communications has any contractual or bidding relationship with NASA, JPL, or any of the proposing parties. We just think these are exciting ideas and wanted to share what we have learned with our readers.

Unfortunately, this proposal was not selected for funding. But we are certain that it stimulated a lot of thought.

Last Update: 21 June 1997

Related Sites:
[27 July - 1 August 1997: Gordon Research Conference on Origin of Life]
[Antarctica and the Exploration of Space]
[Exploring Ice Worlds] [McMurdo LTER: An Antarctic Journal]
[Life in Extreme Environments] [Exobiology]
  • Europa Ice Clipper Science Summary - an excerpt from the Discovery Mission proposal to NASA

  • Mission Overview (Still under development)

    Information
    Sources:
  • 6 January 1997: "Scientists Eager to Break the Ice on Europa" Space News
  • Europa Ice Clipper Science Summary - and excerpt from the Discovery Mission proposal to NASA
    • Contacts: NOTE: Since the Europa Ice Clipper proposal is under review, and likely contains proprietary or confidential information, neither of these fellows is going to be able to say much more about Europa Ice Clipper (than is presented below) until a funding decision is made by NASA.

  • James Cutts, [X.500 search] Acting Director, JPL Center of Excellence for In Situ Exploration and Sample Return,
  • Christopher McKay [X.500 search], Principal Investigator (proposed), NASA Ames Research Center, Space Science Division
    • Project
    Status:
  • Proposal completed by JPL and submitted to NASA's Discovery Program.
  • Currently being evaluated by NASA.
    • Proposed
    Cost:    		 $255 Million
    Mission
    Timeline:
  • Launch: December 2001
  • Europa Survey: June 2009
  • Sample Return to Earth: January 2014
    • Launch
    Vehicle:    		 Delta
    Spacecraft
    Description:
  • Power source: Solar (Photovoltaic)
  • Instrumentation: Camera
  • Sample collector: Aerogel Capture System, low density silica foam [Aerogel info from the JPL Stardust Home Page ]
    • Impactor
    Description
  • Weight: 20 kg
  • Construction: hollow copper ball, softball-sized (approx. 10 cm. diameter)
  • Impact speed: 10 km sec - 2
    • Mission
    Profile
  • Upon intercepting Europa, the Impactor would be released vy Ice Clipper.
  • Impact speed of 10 km sec - 2 and trajectory designed to eject plume of material from Europa's surface.
  • Ice Clipper would intercept ejecta at 50 km altitude above Europa and capture material using aerogel collector.
  • During return trip to Earth, Ice Clipper would perform analysis of captured material
  • Upon arrival at Earth, re-entry vehicle containing Europa sample would separate from Ice Clipper, enter Earth's atmsophere and land with the aid of parachutes.

    • Return to: | Proposed Probes to Europa | Europa Revealed | The Astrobiology Web |