NASA's Europa Clipper mission, aimed at exploring Jupiter's system, was initially slated for launch on the agency's SLS rocket in 2024. However, with SLS unavailable due to Artemis priorities, officials turned to a proven commercial provider: SpaceX.
In 2019, NASA announced plans to investigate Europa, one of the top candidates—alongside Mars and Enceladus—for potential extraterrestrial life. This icy moon harbors a vast subsurface ocean believed to be salty. The Europa Clipper mission will send a spacecraft to Jupiter for dozens of close flybys, analyzing the ice shell and identifying future landing sites.
Originally set for SLS launch in 2024—the same rocket powering crewed Artemis missions—Europa Clipper's plans shifted. Supply constraints and Artemis demands rule out SLS for science missions until late this decade.
Early this year, NASA pivoted to commercial options, pitting SpaceX's Falcon Heavy against United Launch Alliance's Delta IV Heavy. Falcon Heavy won, securing a $178 million contract for the October 2024 liftoff. NASA recently chose it for lunar station components too.
Falcon Heavy lacks SLS's direct thrust, so Europa Clipper's path changes. SLS offered a straight shot, arriving by 2027. Instead, the probe will slingshot past Mars in February 2025 and Earth in December 2026 for gravity assists toward Jupiter.
Arrival now shifts to 2029-2030, about five and a half years post-launch.
