SpaceX will launch NASA’s extremely anticipated Europa Clipper mission on Thursday (Oct. 10), and you’ll watch the motion dwell.
A SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket is scheduled to raise off from NASA’s Kennedy House Middle (KSC) in Florida on Thursday at 12:31 p.m. EDT (1631 GMT), kicking off the $5 billion Europa Clipper mission, which can assess the habitability of Jupiter’s ocean moon Europa.
You’ll be able to watch the launch — the Tenth-ever for the highly effective Falcon Heavy — dwell right here at House.com, courtesy of NASA, or instantly through the area company. There are a number of prelaunch actions to comply with as nicely; this is a rundown of the schedule.
Oct. 8: Europa Clipper science briefing
On Tuesday (Oct. 8) at 3:30 p.m. EDT (1930 GMT), NASA will host a briefing to debate the science targets of Europa Clipper, which can attain Jupiter’s orbit in 2030 and examine Europa over dozens of shut flybys.
The briefing contributors are:
- Gina DiBraccio, performing director, Planetary Science Division, NASA Headquarters
- Robert Pappalardo, mission scientist, Europa Clipper, NASA’s JPL (Jet Propulsion Laboratory)
- Haje Korth, deputy mission scientist, Europa Clipper, Utilized Physics Laboratory (APL)
- Cynthia Phillips, mission employees scientist, Europa Clipper, NASA JPL
Oct. 9: NASA Social panel
A “NASA Social” panel, held at KSC, will stream on Wednesday (Oct. 9) at 2:00 p.m. EDT (1800 GMT). Throughout such occasions, company scientists, engineers and officers area questions from the general public. You’ll be able to submit a query to NASA’s X, Fb and YouTube accounts utilizing the #AskNASA hashtag.
The panelists are:
- Kate Calvin, chief scientist and senior local weather advisor, NASA Headquarters
- Caley Burke, Flight Design Analyst, NASA’s Launch Providers Program
- Erin Leonard, mission employees scientist, Europa Clipper, NASA JPL
- Juan Pablo León, techniques testbed engineer, Europa Clipper, NASA JPL
- Elizabeth Turtle, principal investigator, Europa Imaging System instrument, Europa Clipper, APL
Oct. 9: Prelaunch information convention
Then, at 3:30 p.m. (1930 GMT) or thereabouts on Wednesday, NASA will stream a prelaunch information convention. This occasion will comply with the completion of Clipper’s launch readiness evaluation, so the timing may change if that assembly is unexpectedly brief or lengthy.
The contributors are:
- NASA Affiliate Administrator Jim Free
- Sandra Connelly, deputy affiliate administrator, Science Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters
- Tim Dunn, launch director, NASA’s Launch Providers Program
- Julianna Scheiman, director, NASA Science Missions, SpaceX
- Jordan Evans, mission supervisor, Europa Clipper, NASA JPL
- Mike McAleenan, launch climate officer, forty fifth Climate Squadron, U.S. House Power
Oct. 9: Europa Clipper rollout
At 5:30 p.m. EDT (2130 GMT) on Wednesday, NASA will start its “Europa Clipper rollout present,” which presumably will cowl the rollout of the probe and its Falcon Heavy rocket to KSC’s Pad 39A.
Oct. 10: Launch day!
NASA’s launch-day protection will start at 11:30 a.m. EDT (1530 GMT) on Thursday (Oct. 10), virtually precisely an hour earlier than launch, which is scheduled to happen at 12:31 p.m. EDT (1631 GMT).
If Clipper does not fly on Thursday, it’s going to produce other probabilities; the launch window extends by means of Oct. 31. Maintain checking with House.com, or NASA’s Europa Clipper weblog, for updates.
