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Europa Clipper Propulsion Module

An engineer removes protective plastic wrap from Europa Clipper's propulsion module in a cleanroom.
Source: Johns Hopkins APL/Ed Whitman
Published: July 12, 2021

An engineer removes protective plastic wrap from Europa Clipper's propulsion module in the cleanroom at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory.

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The spacecraft’s developmental test model installed in a clean room.
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In the center of the photo, an engineer stands to the left of Europa Clipper’s developmental test model, which is visible as a large, aluminum cylinder with an aluminum box and other aluminum structures protruding from the box. The aluminum box replicates the spacecraft’s avionics vault, while the cylinder replicates the spacecraft’s propulsion module. The test model is towering more than twice as high as the engineer, who is wearing full white body scrubs. To the left and further back in the clean room, the spacecraft’s flight model is visible.
Europa Clipper's Developmental Test Model
A technician prepares to attach the vault plate to NASA's Europa Clipper spacecraft on May 3, 2024. 
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A technician in white protective clothing holds the triangular-shaped, silver-colored vault plate over a black box sitting on a work table with lots of tools around it. Another worker in protective clothing holds a video camera to record the moment.
Europa Clipper Vault Plate Lifted
The prominent "X" near the center of the mosaic is the junction of two "triplebands," parallel sets of ridges.
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Ridges form X on surface of Europa
Prominent "X" on Europa
The Europa Imaging System (EIS) wide-angle-camera team took its “first light” image with the telescope and detector in December 2021.
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The wide-angle camera team is captured in the instrument's first light test at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory.
Wide Angle Camera First Light
Europa Clipper's propulsion module sits in the cleanroom at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory.
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Europa Clipper's propulsion module sits in the cleanroom at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory
Europa Clipper Propulsion Module
How did the team working on NASA’s Europa Clipper spacecraft test whether the spacecraft will work properly in outer space?
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Video showing Europa Clipper undergoing testing in a special chamber to simulate conditions in space.
Spacecraft Makers: Simulating Space to Test Europa Clipper
This video shows a test deployment of Europa Clipper’s very high frequency (VHF) radar antenna.
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video of a test deployment of Europa Clipper’s very high frequency (VHF) radar antenna
Europa Clipper REASON VHF Radar Antenna Deployment
A 3D model of the Mapping Imaging Spectrometer for Europa (MISE), a spectrometry instrument on Europa Clipper. 
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3D model of the MISE instrument
MISE
This image of the Jovian moon Europa was taken by Voyager 2 the spacecraft passed within 139,800 miles (225,000 kilometers) on July 9, 1979.
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cracked, icy surface
Europa's Evening Terminator
Jupiter's moon Europa, as seen in this image taken June 27, 1996 by NASA's Galileo spacecraft, displays features in some areas resembling ice floes seen in Earth's polar seas.
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black and white view of circular features on icy surface
Europa Ice Floes
This beautiful image of the crescents of volcanic Io and more sedate Europa was snapped by New Horizons' color Multispectral Visual Imaging Camera (MVIC).
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color view of two crescent moons in dark space
Two Moons Meet over Jupiter
The high gain antenna for the Europa Clipper recently underwent testing. 
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Europa Clipper's large high gain antenna, which is taller than a person and is painted dark black, is hoisted on mechanical supports on a large, multi-story room that has its floor, walls, and ceiling covered in blue foam triangles to avoid interference during testing.
High Gain Antenna Testing
A plasma instrument sensor assembly is subjected to a simulated electromagnetic interference environment.
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A plasma instrument sensor assembly is subjected to a simulated electromagnetic interference environment.
Plasma Instrument Electromagnetic Interference Testing
Europa Clipper’s bowl-shaped high-gain antenna faces down in this image.
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Europa Clipper’s bowl-shaped high-gain antenna faces down in this image.
High-Gain Antenna Communications Dish
The telescope housing for Europa Clipper’s E-THEMIS instrument.
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The telescope housing for Europa Clipper’s E-THEMIS instrument.
E-THEMIS Telescope Housing
Europa Clipper's propulsion module rotates on a stand in the cleanroom at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory.
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video of Europa Clipper's propulsion module rotating in a cleanroom
Europa Clipper Propulsion Module
Dark, irregular features on Jupiter's moon Europa.
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Chaotic, swirling terrain on Europa.
Thera and Thrace Macula on Europa
Depicted in this artist's concept against an illustration of a basketball court, Europa Clipper is the largest spacecraft NASA has ever built for a planetary mission.
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A dark gray model of Europa Clipper hovers above a yellowish orange illustration of a basketball court.
Europa Clipper: NASA's Largest Planetary Spacecraft (Artist's Concept)
The propulsion module harness, installed onto a bake-out fixture, is rolled up to the propulsion module in preparation for transfer and installation. The harness is the cabling that connects all of...
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people working on the spacecraft in the clean room
Europa Clipper Propulsion Module
Europa Clipper’s surface dust analyzer instrument is unboxed following delivery to JPL in September 2022. 
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Two engineers in full white body coveralls and masks are shown in the center of the image lifting a silver box up from a cart, revealing Europa Clipper’s surface dust analyzer instrument underneath. The engineers and the instrument are seen in a cleanroom. The instrument is surrounded by a semi-transparent protective plastic that is in the shape of the box that was covering it. The gold colored instrument is about the size of a drum.
Europa Clipper's Dust Analyzer Delivered to JPL
Engineers integrate the avionics vault mass simulator for the Europa Clipper avionics module to the top of the propulsion module.
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Engineers integrate the avionics vault mass simulator for the Europa Clipper avionics module to the top of the propulsion module.
Avionics Mass Simulator
This image of Jupiter's satellite Europa was obtained from a range of 7,364 miles (11,851 kilometers) by the Galileo spacecraft during its fourth orbit around Jupiter and its first close pass of Eu...
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ridges on an icy surface
Prominent Doublet Ridges on Europa
This high resolution image of the icy crust of Europa reveals a surface crisscrossed by multiple sets of ridges and fractures. 
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Various linear ridges on Europa as seen from orbit.
Europa's Crisscrossed Ridges and Fractures
U.S. Poet Laureate Ada Limón makes her first visit to NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL).
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Poet Ada Limón is given a tour of JPL where Europa Clipper is under construction. She sees the spacecraft for the first time.
U.S. Poet Laureate Ada Limón Visits NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)
Europa Clipper's developmental test model sits on a flatbed truck at NASA's Jet Propulsion laboratory on its way to structural testing.
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A shiny metal cylinder 5 feet (1.5 meters) wide and 16 feet (5 meters) tall stands erect on the flatbed of a truck.
Europa Clipper's Developmental Test Model