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Placing the Europa Clipper Vault Plate

Two technicians in white protective clothing hold the Europa Clipper Vault Plate as they position it for installation on the spacecraft.
Source: NASA/JPL-Caltech
Published: May 7, 2024
Historical Date: May 3, 2024

Engineers and technicians move the vault plate into position for installation on NASA's Europa Clipper spacecraft on May 3, 2024. The plate is made of tantalum metal that's about 1 millimeter thick, about 7 inches tall, and 11 inches wide (18 by 28 centimeters). It's part of the structure that will protect Europa Clipper’s electronics from Jupiter’s harmful radiation.  The orbiter is being assembled in the clean room of High Bay 1 at the agency's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Southern California.

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