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The vast expanse of space is by no means empty. It is filled with invisible forces, shifting planetary alignments, and subtle gravitational interactions that shape the motion of celestial bodies. For a spacecraft Europa Clipper these invisible forces will be the key to achieving his goal - a moon of Jupiter Europe, covered in ice, but full of scientific possibilities.
Scientists have long suspected the existence of a subglacial ocean on Europa, hidden beneath a thick layer of frozen crust. Could it harbor conditions conducive to life? Mission Europa Clipper is designed to find answers to these questions. But first, the spacecraft must perform a carefully planned maneuver, using Mars as a staging point before heading into deep space.
Europa Clipper Approaching Mars
Europa Clipper will fly past Mars at great speed — 550 miles (884 km) above the planet's surfaceThis flyby is not accidental: it is a calculated maneuver that uses the Red Planet's gravity to adjust its trajectory without wasting any extra fuel.
At the closest point of convergence, the device will move at a speed of 15,2 miles per second. Mars' gravity will slightly change the trajectory and reduce the speed. This is only a small adjustment, but it is crucial. After leaving Mars' gravitational field, the vehicle will continue its flight at a speed 14 miles per second, perfectly aligned for the next leg of its journey.
The road to Jupiter
Getting to Jupiter is not just a matter of speed, but also of precision. A flyby of Mars is only the first of two gravity maneuversThe second will take place in December 2026when Europa Clipper will return to Earth for a final “gravity jump.” That’s when it will get the momentum it needs to continue on its journey to the gas giant.
Without these maneuvers, the mission would have required huge fuel reserves, which would make the spacecraft heavier, more expensive, and slower. Instead, it uses the planets' gravity to conserve resources. If all goes according to plan, the spacecraft will reach Jupiter's orbit in April 2030, ready to fulfill its main mission.
The art of space navigation
"We are entering the gravitational field of Mars at high speed, and its gravity is changing our trajectory," — explains Brett Smith, mission systems engineer at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). "In doing so, we exchange a small amount of energy with the planet, which allows us to set a course that will return us to Earth."
Neglected 14 October 2024 of the year rocket SpaceX Falcon Heavy, Europa Clipper has to cover a huge distance. Jupiter revolves around the Sun in five times further than Earth, so a direct flight is impractical. That is why the mission involves a multi-stage route. Method gravitational maneuvers is well known to scientists. As early as the 1970s, probes Travel used the rare alignment of the planets to accelerate gravitationally through Jupiter and Saturn into interstellar space. This method has since become standard in interplanetary navigation.
Space billiards game
"It's a kind of billiards game in the solar system, when the spacecraft flies past several planets at the right angle and at the right time to gain enough energy to fly to Jupiter and Europa," — notes Ben Bradley, Europa Clipper mission planner at JPL.
The whole operation requires multi-year planning. Engineers specifically calculated the trajectory with a margin so that adjustments could be made if necessary. Currently, approaching Mars, the team has already conducted three trajectory correction maneuvers (TCM) — in November, January and February. The next corrective maneuver is scheduled for mid-MarchIn general, during the mission it may be necessary hundreds of small corrections to maintain an ideal trajectory.
Instrument testing during flight
Although the Mars flyby is mainly used for navigation, it provides a unique opportunity to test scientific instruments The day before the approach to Mars, the mission team will perform thermal imager calibrationA multispectral image of the planet is expected to be released in the coming months. But the most important will be first full-scale testing of the Europa Clipper radar.
This radar, designed for scanning Europa's ice shell, is one of the mission's most important scientific instruments. Its long-wave antennas could not be fully tested on Earth before launch. Now, in space, it will undergo its first real-world testing.
Uncovering the secrets of Europe
Main mission Europa Clipper will begin after reaching Jupiter. The spacecraft will explore the frozen crust of Europe, will create subsurface ocean maps and will study the interaction between the ice shell and the liquid water beneath itDoes Europa have the right chemistry to support life? Could microbial life exist beneath its surface? These are questions scientists hope to answer.
Mission Europa Clipper is the result years of international cooperationNASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) manages the project in partnership with Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics LaboratoryIf the mission is successful, it could change our understanding not only of Europa, but also of the possibility of life beyond Earth. 
