Skip Navigation
CLIPPER CAM
icon/broadcasting LIVE
menu close modal

All Resources

Thermal Imager Test

Two engineers at a computer.
Source: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU
Published: May 27, 2022

Christensen and optical engineer Edgar Madril carry out tests on Europa Clipper’s thermal imager instrument (called the Europa Thermal Emission Imaging System, or E-THEMIS) to verify the camera's focus and optical quality.

Related content pages

ENLARGE

Related

Ridges disrupted by the localized formation of domes may be indicative of thermal upwelling of water from beneath Europa's crust.
More
Rugged terrain on Europa.
Dome-Shaped Features on Europa
A 3D model of the MAss Spectrometer for Planetary EXploration/Europa (MASPEX), a chemical analysis instrument on Europa Clipper.
More
3d model of maspex instrument
MASPEX
As infrared light enters Europa Clipper’s MISE instrument, mirrors bounce the light into its calcium fluoride (CaF2) lens (flight model shown), which directs the light onto a diffraction grating.
More
As infrared light enters Europa Clipper’s MISE instrument, mirrors bounce the light into its calcium fluoride (CaF2) lens (flight model shown), which directs the light onto a diffraction grating.
MISE Dyson CaF2 Lens
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.
More
cracked, icy surface
Europa's Evening Terminator
Pwyll crater on Jupiter's moon, Europa, was photographed by the Solid State Imaging system on the Galileo spacecraft during its sixth orbit around Jupiter.
More
black and white view of circular crater on icy surface
Pwyll Crater on Europa
Europa Clipper’s spectrometer, Mapping Imaging Spectrometer for Europa (MISE), is seen in the midst of assembly in a clean room at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. MISE will analyze infrared light...
More
The Mapping Imaging Spectrometer for Europa (MISE), is shown here in the midst of assembly in a clean room at JPL.
The Mapping Imaging Spectrometer for Europa (MISE) Science Instrument
This image of Europa was taken by the Galileo spacecraft under "low-Sun" illumination.
More
Shadowy hills on Europa
Terrain Shadows on Europa
NASA's New Horizons spacecraft took this image of Europa hanging above Jupiter's cloud tops.
More
Black and white image of Europa in space.
New Horizons Spies Europa
This view of the icy surface of Jupiter's moon, Europa, is a mosaic of two pictures taken by the Solid State Imaging system on board the Galileo spacecraft during a close flyby of Europa on Feb. 20...
More
black and white view of ridges on an icy surface
Mosaic of Europa's Ridges, Craters
This mosaic of a region in the northern hemisphere of Jupiter's moon, Europa, displays many of the features which are typical on the satellite's icy surface.
More
color view of ridges and other terrain on an icy surface
Double Ridges, Dark Spots, and Smooth Icy Plains on Europa
Engineers at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, prepare for a propellant tank to be inserted into the cylinder in the background at left. The cylinder is one of two that mak...
More
Contamination control engineers in a clean room at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, evaluate a propellant tank before it is installed in NASA's Europa Clipper spacecraft.
Prepping Europa Clipper's Propulsion Tanks
This animation shows NASA’s Europa Clipper during a flyby of Europa. 
More
This animation shows NASA’s Europa Clipper during a flyby of Europa.
Mission Animation: Europa Flyby
The animation illustrates the complex nature of the spacecraft’s magnetic field.
More
animation of the complex magnetic fields of the Europa Clipper spacecraft
Magnetic Field of the Europa Clipper Spacecraft
Engineers and technicians work together to install reaction wheels on the underside of the main body of NASA’s Europa Clipper spacecraft, which is in its assembly, test, and launch operations phase...
More
The main body of the spacecraft standing in a white clean room is the central component of this image. The tall structure is covered with protective covers to keep sensitive equipment safe during assembly and what looks like white paper, which is being used for patterning for the spacecraft’s protective insulation. Four engineers are seen under the base of the spacecraft, where they are installing the reaction wheels, as if they are working on the undercarriage of a car. Two engineers on the left are on their stomachs, and two engineers on the right are on their back.
NASA's Europa Clipper: Reaction Wheel Installation
This animation shows NASA’s Europa Clipper during a flyby of Europa. 
More
This animation shows NASA’s Europa Clipper during a flyby of Europa.
Mission Animation: Europa Flyby
In this activity, students will build a spectrometer using basic materials to observe the light.
More
A light bulb is visible on the left and a rainbow of colors is visible on the right.
Classroom Activity: Using Light to Study Planets
An engineer inspects the radio frequency (RF) panel of NASA’s Europa Clipper.
More
An engineer inspects the radio frequency (RF) panel of NASA’s Europa Clipper.
Inspecting Europa Clipper's RF Panel
Backup flight-ready ion detectors for the SUrface Dust Analyzer (SUDA) are stored in a dry nitrogen environment to protect these highly sensitive instruments from degradation due to contamination o...
More
An image showing that backup flight-ready ion detectors for the SUrface Dust Analyzer (SUDA) are stored in a dry nitrogen environment to protect these highly sensitive instruments from degradation due to contamination or moisture in the air.
Backup Flight-Ready Dust Analyzer Ion Detectors
This 12-frame mosaic provides the highest resolution view ever obtained of the side of Jupiter's moon Europa that faces the giant planet.
More
full-disc black and white view of moon
Europa's Jupiter-Facing Hemisphere
A 3D model of the Europa Imaging System (EIS), an imager on Europa Clipper.
More
3D model of the EIS instrument
EIS
Europa Clipper’s thermal imager is shown here in its protective enclosure, viewing the Tempe Campus of Arizona State University during testing on a rooftop lab.
More
Europa Clipper’s thermal imager is shown here in its protective enclosure, viewing the Tempe Campus of Arizona State University during testing on a rooftop lab.
Thermal Imager's First Light Test
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
This shaded relief highlights relative elevations around Cilix crater on Jupiter's moon, Europa.
More
terrain texture
Topography Around Europa's Cilix Crater
Europa Clipper’s thermal imager sits in its protective enclosure in the cleanroom at Arizona State University. 
More
Europa Clipper’s thermal imager sits in its protective enclosure in the cleanroom at Arizona State University.
Preparing Thermal Imager for First Light Test
The scanning mirror and data processing unit of Europa Clipper’s imaging spectrometer instrument.
More
The scanning mirror and data processing unit of Europa Clipper’s imaging spectrometer instrument, called MISE, are critical to determining the habitability of the ocean that likely resides beneath Europa’s surface.
Imaging Spectrometer's Scanning Mirror and Data Processing Unit