Skip Navigation
CLIPPER CAM
icon/broadcasting LIVE
menu close modal

All Resources

Europa Clipper Team Deploys Magnetometer Boom

Several workers in white lab coats, cleanroom bouffant caps, and blue face masks work around Europa Clipper’s magnetometer boom after the boom was unfurled. Some of the workers are on the floor beneath the boom. Others are standing nearby. The boom is covered in protective silver-colored material and is supported by several aluminum-colored stands.
Source: NASA/JPL-Caltech
Published: June 7, 2023

The Europa Clipper team deployed a 28-foot (8.5-meter) boom that will support the spacecraft's magnetometer sensors – key for confirming that an ocean lies beneath the surface of Jupiter's icy moon Europa. Here, workers on the floor and nearby check on the boom after it was stretched out in NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Southern California.

Learn More

ENLARGE

Related

This computer-generated perspective view of the Pwyll impact crater on Jupiter's moon Europa was created using images taken by NASA's Galileo spacecraft.
More
side view of crater showing topography with color representing altitudes
Pwyll Impact Crater: Perspective View of Topographic Model
The imaging spectrometer's scanning mirror and data processing unit are carefully packaged into a specialized shipping container.
More
Members of Europa Clipper’s imaging spectrometer instrument, called MISE, team at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory carefully package the instrument’s scanning mirror and data processing unit into a specialized shipping container.
Imaging Spectrometer's Scanning Mirror and Data Processing Unit Packaging
This unprocessed image shows the successful “first light” for Europa Clipper’s MISE instrument.
More
A blue image with a thin vertical white line in the center.
MISE First Light
This view from NASA's Galileo spacecraft shows a severely fractured surface on Europa.
More
Black and white image close-up of surface.
Fractured Land
The dual electronics unit for Europa Clipper’s stellar reference unit (also called a star tracker) in a clean room at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. 
More
The dual electronics unit for Europa Clipper’s stellar reference unit (also called a star tracker) in a clean room at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
Star Tracker Dual Electronics Unit
The animation reveals how the Europa Clipper spacecraft’s own magnetic sources distort the ambient magnetic field near Europa.
More
animation of the complex magnetic fields of the Europa Clipper spacecraft
Europa Clipper Spacecraft Distortion of the Ambient Magnetic Field
These images obtained by the Solid State Imaging (CCD) system aboard NASA's Galileo spacecraft show the same region of Europa under different lighting conditions.
More
two views of the same terrain showing different features
Terrain on Europa under Changing Lighting Conditions
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
Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) Staff Engineer Yvette Tyler performs integration and testing on the electronics box for Europa Clipper’s mass spectrometer.
More
Image showing Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) Staff Engineer Yvette Tyler performs integration and testing on the electronics box for Europa Clipper’s mass spectrometer. The mass spectrometer will analyze gases in Europa’s faint atmosphere and possible plumes. It will study the chemistry of the moon’s suspected subsurface ocean, how ocean and surface exchange material, and how radiation alters compounds on the moon’s surface.
Mass Spectrometer Electronics Box
A 3D model of the Europa Imaging System (EIS), an imager on Europa Clipper.
More
3D model of the EIS instrument
EIS
The Europa Clipper Solar Array Mechanical Simulator is shown installed on the spacecraft’s propulsion module.
More
An image showing the Europa Clipper Solar Array Mechanical Simulator installed on the spacecraft’s propulsion module.
Solar Array Mechanical Simulator
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 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
Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) Staff Engineer Yvette Tyler performs integration and testing on the electronics box for Europa Clipper’s mass spectrometer.
More
Image showing Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) Staff Engineer Yvette Tyler performs integration and testing on the electronics box for Europa Clipper’s mass spectrometer. The mass spectrometer will analyze gases in Europa’s faint atmosphere and possible plumes. It will study the chemistry of the moon’s suspected subsurface ocean, how ocean and surface exchange material, and how radiation alters compounds on the moon’s surface.
Mass Spectrometer Electronics Box
This image of Jupiter's icy satellite Europa shows surface features such as domes and ridges, as well as a region of disrupted terrain including crustal plates which are thought to have broken apar...
More
color view of complex terrain on an icy surface
Europa "Ice Rafts" in Local and Color Context
The nadir deck for NASA's Europa Clipper spacecraft. 
More
Nadir deck shown in clean room.
Europa Clipper's Nadir Deck
A plasma instrument sensor assembly loaded into a thermal vacuum chamber.
More
A plasma instrument sensor assembly loaded into a thermal vacuum chamber.
Plasma Instrument Thermal Testing
This high resolution image of the icy plains on Europa shows multiple sets of crosscutting ridges.
More
Crisscrossed ridges as seen from above.
Europa Under Stress
U.S. Poet Laureate Ada Limón makes her first visit to NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL).
More
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 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 high resolution image shows the ice-rich crust of Europa, one of the moons of Jupiter.
More
black and white view of rough terrain on an icy surface
Europa Ice Rafts
Southwest Research Institute (SwRI)’s Dan Aaron (lead spectrometer technician) is making final adjustments to the electrical connections between the MAss Spectrometer for Planetary EXploration/Euro...
More
Southwest Research Institute (SwRI)’s Dan Aaron (lead spectrometer technician) is making final adjustments to the electrical connections between the MAss Spectrometer for Planetary EXploration/Europa (MASPEX) EBox and the spectrometer prior to flight model calibration.
Mass Spectrometer Assembly
The outward-facing side of Europa Clipper's vault plate shows waveforms symbolizing the word 'water' in multiple languages.
More
An image of the Europa Clipper vault plate, highlighted from the upper left corner casting shadows that emphasize engraved waveforms emanating from a central point symbolizing the word 'water' in multiple languages. The waveforms present as audio frequency waves. The vault plate is metal silver and the engravings are black, set against a black background.
Europa Clipper Vault Plate - Water Words
An engineer configures the sensor head for Europa Clipper’s dust analyzer for magnetics testing.  
More
The SUDA sensor head rests upon a table in a clean room. The sensor head is gold in color, shaped slightly like a drum on its side. It is attached a device that lifts the sensor head from the table, and is seen slightly to the ride of center in the image. An engineer wearing white full body coveralls, light blue gloves, glasses, and a mask stands behind the sensor head and the table it is on, looking down at the sensor head. Two additional engineers stand in the distance on either side of the sensor head, both wearing full white body coveralls, masks, and light blue gloves.
Configuring Europa Clipper's Dust Analyzer for Magnetics Testing
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