Skip Navigation
menu close modal

All Resources

Ultraviolet Spectrograph Shipment Preparations

Scientists put Europa Clipper’s ultraviolet spectrograph through its final calibrations prior to shipment to NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
Source: NASA/SwRI
Published: March 3, 2022

Southwest Research Institute scientists Dr. Philippa Molyneux (left) and Dr. Michael Davis (right) put Europa Clipper’s ultraviolet spectrograph (Europa-UVS ) through its final calibrations prior to shipment to NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory for integration into the spacecraft.

Related content pages

ENLARGE

Related

Europa Clipper engineers use mixed reality (also known as augmented reality, or AR) headsets to examine Europa Clipper’s avionics module assembly in a clean room at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
More
Europa Clipper engineers use mixed reality (also known as augmented reality, or AR) headsets to examine Europa Clipper’s avionics module assembly in a clean room at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
Augmented Reality Avionics in the Clean Room
Nitrogen gas is shown being pumped into the sensor head for Europa Clipper’s dust analyzer.
More
The SUDA sensor head is shown resting on a table in a clean room, seen on the right-hand side of the image. The sensor head is gold in color and looks slightly like a drum in shape. A clear tube is seen attached to the top, where nitrogen gas is pumped through. To the left of the sensor head, additional equipment is shown resting on the table. Above the table a fan device is shown hanging from the ceiling.
Dry Nitrogen Gas Pumped Through Europa Clipper's Dust Analyzer
Europa Clipper project scientist Robert Pappalardo presents the Monolith Award to Karla Clark.
More
Europa Clipper project scientist on right presents a black, rectangle-shaped award to Karla Clark, a woman standing on the left.
Europa Clipper Monolith Award
Members of the Europa Clipper team work on the spacecraft’s heat redistribution system at Jet Propulsion Laboratory in 2019.
More
Members of the Europa Clipper team work on the spacecraft’s heat redistribution system at Jet Propulsion Laboratory in 2019.
Europa Clipper's Thermal Tubing
A 3D model of the Vault Plate.
More
A 3D model of the Vault Plate.
Vault Plate Info Panel
Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) staff collaborate on the calibration of the MAss Spectrometer for Planetary EXploration/Europa (MASPEX) instrument, developed and built at SwRI. 
More
Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) staff collaborate on the calibration of the MAss Spectrometer for Planetary EXploration/Europa (MASPEX) instrument, developed and built at SwRI. Kurt Franke (spectrometer engineering lead) points out a mass peak during the MASPEX flight model first calibration run to, clockwise, Kelly Miller (calibration lead), Greg Miller (spectrometer design lead), and Paul Hoeper (software lead).
Mass Spectrometer Assembly
Students use the fundamentals of density to propose a model for the interior structure of Europa.
More
Two clear plastic clubs are visible on a table. The cup visible on the left has sediment on the bottom and water above it. The cup visible on the right has coarse rocks on the bottom and water and ice above it.
Discovering Alien Oceans: Density
 The main body of NASA’s Europa Clipper spacecraft has been delivered to the agency’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, where assembly, test, and launch operations are underway.
More
A time lapse video showing a container arriving to JPL and then being opened to reveal the main body of the spacecraft.
Main Body of NASA's Europa Clipper Spacecraft Arrives at JPL from APL
This view of Jupiter's moon Europa features several regional-resolution mosaics overlaid on a lower resolution global view for context.
More
high-resolution color images of terrain superimposed over a lower-resolution view of about half of Europa's surface
Repeated Flybys Yield a Pole-to-Pole View of Europa
Europa Clipper’s ultraviolet spectrograph is the first science instrument installed on the spacecraft’s nadir deck.
More
A matte-gray polygonal structure about the size of a coffee table sits on end in a white and gray room, and an electronics box is mounted to the structure’s right side.
Ultraviolet Spectrograph Integration
This animation shows a 360 of NASA’s Europa Clipper spacecraft and points out scientific instruments. 
More
This animation shows a 360 of NASA’s Europa Clipper spacecraft and points out scientific instruments.
Mission Animation: Spacecraft 360 with Instruments
The massive high-gain antenna for NASA's Europa Clipper mission is complete.
More
The massive high-gain antenna for NASA's Europa Clipper mission is complete.
Standing Tall: Europa Clipper's High-Gain Antenna
This view taken by NASA's Galileo spacecraft of Jupiter's icy moon Europa focuses on a dark, smooth region whose center is the lowest area in this image.
More
dark and light areas on rough terrain
A Dark Spot on Europa
Engineers and technicians move the vault plate into position for installation on NASA's Europa Clipper spacecraft on May 3, 2024.
More
Two technicians in white protective clothing hold the Europa Clipper Vault Plate as they position it for installation on the spacecraft.
Placing the Europa Clipper Vault Plate
Europa Clipper's high-gain antenna is installed on Aug. 14, 2023.
More
Europa Clipper's high gain antenna, which is taller than the nearby workers, is covered in a protective shroud as it sits on a platform at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
Powerful Antenna Installed On Europa Clipper
A 3D model of the Radar for Europa Assessment and Sounding: Ocean to Near-surface (REASON), a radar & gravity instrument on Europa Clipper. 
More
3D model of REASON instrument
REASON
This image shows a close-up view of terrain within the region of Europa's surface named Conamara.
More
Image of terrain on Europa
Conamara Color Closeup
The flight model of Europa Clipper’s Mapping Imaging Spectrometer for Europa (MISE) instrument in a cleanroom at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Southern California. 
More
Shown is the flight model of Europa Clipper’s Mapping Imaging Spectrometer for Europa (MISE) instrument in a cleanroom at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Southern California. MISE will map the distribution of ices, salts, organics, and the warmest hotspots on Europa. In collaboration with the spacecraft’s other instruments – particularly the visible light cameras and ice-penetrating radar – infrared maps from MISE will help scientists understand Europa’s geologic history, which is one of the key characteristics that will help scientists determine if Europa’s suspected ocean is suitable for life.
MISE Assembly
The Europa Clipper Solar Array Mechanical Simulator is shown installed on the spacecraft’s propulsion module.
More
Image showing Europa Clipper Solar Array Mechanical Simulator installed on the spacecraft’s propulsion module.
Solar Array Mechanical Simulator
Europa Clipper’s surface dust analyzer instrument was delivered to JPL in September 2022. 
More
A large group of engineers in full white body coveralls stand surrounding Europa Clipper’s surface dust analyzer. All the engineers are giving a “thumbs up” hand gesture to indicate that the instrument was successfully delivered. Nine engineers stand to the left of a silver workbench, on which the instrument rests, and six stand to the right of the workbench. The instrument is gold colored and about the size of a drum, resting on its side. The instrument is resting upon a silver workbench in the cleanroom.
Europa Clipper's Dust Analyzer Delivered to JPL
This animation segment shows deployment of NASA’s Europa Clipper spacecraft after launch.
More
An animation showing the Europa Clipper spacecraft deploying from the rocket used to launch it from Earth.
Mission Animation: Deployment
Adjusting laboratory equipment used to calibrate Europa Clipper’s ultraviolet spectrograph. 
More
Adjusting laboratory equipment used to calibrate Europa Clipper’s ultraviolet spectrograph.
Ultraviolet Spectrograph Shipment Preparations
This is a high resolution picture of Jupiter's moon Europa. The area shown is about 5.9 by 9.9 miles (9.6 by 16 kilometers) and the smallest visible feature is about the size of a football field.
More
black and white view of rough terrain on an icy surface
Ridges on Europa
An engineer prepares to integrate the SUrface Dust Analyzer (SUDA)'s sensor head with an ion detector at the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) at the University of Colorado Boulde...
More
An image showing an engineer prepares to integrate the SUrface Dust Analyzer (SUDA)'s sensor head with an ion detector at the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) at the University of Colorado Boulder. The sensor head will detect and determine the mass of ion molecules generated by impacting dust particles.
Dust Analyzer Sensor Head Integration
Dry nitrogen gas is continually pumped through the SUrface Dust Analyzer (SUDA) instrument during assembly and testing to ensure it remains clean and free of contaminants
More
An image showing that dry nitrogen gas is continually pumped through the SUrface Dust Analyzer (SUDA) instrument during assembly and testing to ensure it remains clean and free of contaminants.
Dust Analyzer in the Clean Room