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NASA and SpaceX have postponed the Europa Clipper spacecraft's launch, originally set for October 4, due to safety concerns related to Hurricane Milton. The spacecraft, designed to investigate Jupiter's moon Europa, remains secured at SpaceX's Kennedy Space Center facility as the teams assess storm impacts.
SpaceX's Falcon Heavy Europa Clipper Launch Delayed Amid FAA Approvals and Hurricane Concerns
The spacecraft, which was encapsulated within the payload fairing of SpaceX's Falcon Heavy rocket the day before, is a component of a mission to Europa, Jupiter's ice moon. According to Wccftech, this deep space mission is a rare launch for SpaceX and the second Falcon Heavy launch of 2024, following the successful deployment of a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather satellite in June.
Since the Falcon 9 second-stage anomaly at the end of September, SpaceX has turned off its rockets. When it occurs, this launch will be one of the first ones. Although the Falcon 9 has yet to be approved for flight by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), it has permitted SpaceX to launch the European Space Agency's Hera spacecraft. The FAA approved this launch because Hera's second stage will not re-enter Earth's atmosphere, reducing the danger to public safety. SpaceX will expel the Falcon 9's first-stage booster for the Hera mission.
NASA and SpaceX have not announced a revised launch date for the Europa Clipper mission. The initial launch window was October 10; however, NASA has verified that additional windows are available until November 6. Nevertheless, these plans may be influenced by the potential impact of Hurricane Milton, which is currently located near the Gulf of Mexico and is anticipated to approach the Space Coast later this week.
NASA’s Europa Clipper Mission Prepares for Launch, Awaiting Post-Storm Inspections at Kennedy Space Center
Last week, the mission's readiness assessment approved the launch on October 4. The Clipper spacecraft is intended to investigate Europa from orbit and ascertain whether the moon's subsurface regions can support life. The spacecraft will map various areas with each orbit, flying nearly 16 kilometers above Europa's surface during its mission.
On October 3, the craft was encapsulated and relocated to SpaceX's facility at the Kennedy Space Center. This is the concluding phase of pre-launch preparations, during which the spacecraft was mated to the Falcon Heavy and raised vertically for its launch. NASA has announced that the Clipper and Falcon Heavy are currently secured within the facility. Before rescheduling the launch, post-storm inspections will be conducted to evaluate damage and guarantee safety.
For years, the Clipper mission has been being prepared. The spacecraft is scheduled to pass Mars in February 2025 as part of its flight path and return to Earth in December 2026. It will then proceed toward Jupiter, anticipated to reach later that year.
