As a part of the defunct
Europa Jupiter System Mission – Laplace (EJSM-Laplace), the Jupiter Europa Orbiter (JEO) was a proposed
orbiter
A spacecraft is a vehicle that is designed to fly and operate in outer space. Spacecraft are used for a variety of purposes, including communications, Earth observation, meteorology, navigation, space colonization, planetary exploration, ...
probe slated for lift-off in 2020 and planned for detailed studies of
Jupiter's moons
Europa and
Io as well as the
Jovian magnetosphere. Its main goal would have been to look for evidence of a possible subsurface ocean.
In June 2015, a more economical mission, the Europa Multiple-Flyby Mission, renamed into ''
Europa Clipper
Europa Clipper (previously known as Europa Multiple Flyby Mission) is a space probe developed by NASA to study Europa (moon), Europa, a Galilean moon of Jupiter. It was launched on October 14, 2024. The spacecraft used a gravity assist from Mar ...
'', was approved by
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA ) is an independent agencies of the United States government, independent agency of the federal government of the United States, US federal government responsible for the United States ...
and entered the formulation stage.
See also
*
Europa Orbiter (former NASA plan cancelled in 2002).
*
Europa Clipper
Europa Clipper (previously known as Europa Multiple Flyby Mission) is a space probe developed by NASA to study Europa (moon), Europa, a Galilean moon of Jupiter. It was launched on October 14, 2024. The spacecraft used a gravity assist from Mar ...
(the next mission plan for Europa, non-nuclear orbiter for Jupiter doing Europa flybys).
*
Europa Lander (NASA)
The Europa Lander is an astrobiology mission concept by NASA to send a lander to Europa, an icy moon of Jupiter. If funded and developed as a large strategic science mission, it would be launched in 2027 to complement the studies by the ...
(stand-alone mission for NASA Europa Lander) (Note: there was also a concept for a Europa Clipper add-on lander).
References
NASA programs
Proposed NASA space probes
Europa Jupiter System Mission – Laplace
Europa (moon)
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