Europa Clipper is a NASA mission that aims to determine if one of Jupiter’s moons could harbor life. It just successfully tested its instruments during a flyby of Mars.
E-THEMIS is an infrared camera that will peek down under the icy surface of the moon Europa to see how much warm liquid water could be below.
"First and foremost, we were relieved that it actually worked, but it worked really well. It worked the way we expected it to, that with the image stacked up beautifully," said Phil Christensen, an Arizona State University professor and E-THEMIS principal investigator.
The spacecraft has to fly by Mars and Earth again before finally making it to Jupiter. It can use those planets' gravity to accelerate it and reach its destination faster.
Christensen said while this could open new opportunities for the mission while the spacecraft is on its journey, he is looking forward to the first results of the moon Europa.
“Someday in the future, we're going to land there and drill through and get into that ocean. So you know, I think we're going to play a major role in that future exploration of Europa and maybe even the discovery of life," Christensen said.
Europa Clipper is expected to reach its final destination in 2030.
-
Among the more than 200 recipients of this year’s Guggenheim Fellowship are three Arizona professors: one at ASU and two at the University of Arizona. One of those is Erika Hamden — she’s an astrophysics professor and director of the University of Arizona Space Institute. -
Warmer water in rivers and streams may have big consequences for those waterways, as well as the ecosystems around them. -
A new clinical trial wants participants who have been diagnosed with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease and screen positive for the bacteria that causes gingivitis. -
Valley residents will feel a brief cooldown this week. The National Weather Service predicts high temperatures in the high 80s to lower 90s in the early weekdays. But it's temporary solace as the summer season approaches. -
Older adults are having sex, and they’re not always using protection. Context is important here: Protection to one generation might mean from pregnancy. They might not consider STIs. And stigma remains a barrier.
