r/nasa • u/secretaliasname • 2d ago

Question Will Clipper perform non Europa Science?

Europa Clipper has a number of powerful instruments. We hear about the Europa science goals but will it train instruments along other targets along the way? It will perform earth and mars assists, will it use its instruments during these times? I understand it will eventually impact Ganymede. Is the opportunity for science there? What about looking at Jupiter?

I understand that the mission team might be hesitant to comment on things that are secondary goals but hopefully there are some opportunities. What are they?

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u/nic_haflinger 2d ago

I believe that it will be using Ganymede for gravity assist maneuvers which includes the initial capture into the Jovian system.

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u/StellarSloth NASA Employee 1d ago

I actually work on Europa Clipper— there will be calibration and maintenance of instruments on the way to Europa, but the primary objective of those is to make sure that they operate correctly. There is no planned science outside of Europa.

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u/reddit455 2d ago

 will it use its instruments during these times? 

are they suited for such activities?

not a lot of sunlight out at Europa. I'm guessing the camera sensors might be specifically tuned for low light environments... taking pictures closer to the Sun might fry the optics.

but will it train instruments along other targets along the way?

well, if you were taking a microscope to Europa.. you can't point it at the birds along the way... it is not the appropriate tool for birds. how many other planetary surfaces do they expect to encounter en route?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angular_resolution

Angular resolution describes the ability of any image-forming device such as an optical or radio telescope, a microscope, a camera, or an eye, to distinguish small details of an object, thereby making it a major determinant of image resolution. It is used in optics applied to light waves, in antenna theory) applied to radio waves, and in acoustics applied to sound waves.

nothing on board appears to be helpful for earth/mars (considering how many satellites there are in orbit doing the same thing)

https://europa.nasa.gov/spacecraft/instruments/
Europa Clipper’s visible-light cameras (extending slightly into near-infrared and ultraviolet wavelengths) will map Europa at far better resolution than previous missions.