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NASA's Europa Clipper Launch

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217 points belter | 1 comments | 14 Oct 24 15:28 UTC | HN request time: 0.202s | source
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mmooss ◴[14 Oct 24 17:18 UTC] No.41839623[source]▶
ETA is 2030. Originally planned for a rocket (SLS) which would have delivered the Clipper in ~3 yrs, but which was decided to be not viable for the Clipper (with some lobbying suspected).

How much science is delayed by the extra 2+ years? Looking at the 'project plan', is the Clipper's arrival (and delivery of data) on the critical path for research? And how much research?

I'm picturing a lot of scientists and research projects waiting an extra 2-3 years, and then all the research, follow-on missions, etc. also delayed. Essentially, the decision might shift everything in this field 2-3 years further away, and then centuries from now human habitation of other planets is 2-3 years later (ok, a bit exaggerated).

But seriously, maybe it's not on the critical path or doesn't impact that much. Is anyone here familiar with the research?

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1. caconym_ ◴[14 Oct 24 23:37 UTC] No.41843379[source]▶
If I was part of the Europa Clipper project, I would simply be happy to see it healthy and on the way to Europa. It was not at all clear that an SLS rocket would be available to launch it in the time frame where it would have arrived substantially earlier than it will now, and on top of that there were questions about whether the vibrational environment on SLS would mandate expensive and time-consuming modifications to the spacecraft.

All in all, it would not surprise me if it reaches Europa earlier this way. But, of course, we will never know.