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Star Tracker Electronics Box

One of Europa Clipper’s star tracker electronics boxes (the bronze-colored cube at center) sits in a JPL clean room for testing in October 2021. After the spacecraft’s launch in October 2024, the star tracker will autonomously identify stars to determine Europa Clipper’s orientation in space. The device is essential for precisely pointing the spacecraft’s science instruments and communication antennas.
Source: NASA/JPL-Caltech/J. Thompson
Published: January 18, 2022

One of Europa Clipper’s star tracker electronics boxes (the bronze-colored cube at center) sits in a JPL clean room for testing in October 2021. After the spacecraft’s launch in October 2024, the star tracker will autonomously identify stars to determine Europa Clipper’s orientation in space. The device is essential for precisely pointing the spacecraft’s science instruments and communication antennas.

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