Pasadena, CA – When NASA’s Europa Clipper spacecraft launches in October, it will carry a unique payload: a commemorative plate adorned with over 2.6 million names submitted by the public. This special tribute is a part of NASA’s tradition of sending meaningful messages into space, with Europa Clipper set to explore Jupiter’s moon Europa, known for its potential subsurface ocean.
The metal plate, made of tantalum and measuring 7 by 11 inches, is a homage to Earth’s connection to Europa. One side of the plate features engravings related to water, including the word “water” spoken in 103 languages and etched waveforms, while the other side displays references to interstellar communication frequencies and a portrait of planetary science pioneer Ron Greeley.
The plate, designed to protect the spacecraft’s science instruments from Jupiter’s radiation, will seal an opening in the vault aboard Europa Clipper. The mission aims to determine if Europa has conditions that could support life by studying its subsurface ocean, icy crust, and thin atmosphere through close flybys and data collection.
In addition to honoring Greeley and highlighting the search for habitable conditions on Europa, the plate also includes the Drake Equation, a tool for estimating the likelihood of finding advanced civilizations beyond Earth. The intricate design of the artifact serves as a representation of humanity’s exploration and curiosity about the cosmos.
As the spacecraft journey, spanning 1.6 billion miles, reaches completion, Europa Clipper will arrive at Jupiter in 2030, embarking on a series of close flybys of Europa to gather crucial data. This mission’s significance lies in its potential to provide insights into the astrobiological potential of habitable worlds beyond our own.
With the completion of Europa Clipper at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California, preparations are underway for its scheduled launch in October. The mission’s focus on understanding Europa’s potential habitability and unraveling the mysteries of its subsurface ocean highlights NASA’s ongoing quest for discovery and exploration in the vast expanse of the universe.