Greetings from Europa , the year is 2221, and it's a prime year!
The Background...
The Europa Clipper spacecraft, launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket in October 2024, successfully embarked on its mission to investigate the potential habitability of Europa. After reaching its destination in 2030, this pioneering spacecraft marked the inaugural dedicated mission to explore a celestial body beyond Earth, specifically targeting Europa.
Why Europa, you may ask....
Since the discovery of it's composition, Europa was considered the most likely place to find life in the solar system, outside Earth.
Why would Europa support life?
Europa is recognized as an "ocean world" due to its extensive global ocean found beneath a thick icy crust.
How far is Europa?
The distance between Europa and Earth varies as both planets move in their respective orbits around the Sun. On average, Europa is about 628 million kilometers (390 million miles) away from Earth. However, this distance can change significantly as both Europa and Earth follow elliptical orbits. When the two planets are at their closest approach (conjunction), they can be around 380 million kilometers (236 million miles) apart. Conversely, at their farthest distance (opposition), they can be more than 950 million kilometers (590 million miles) apart. These values are approximate and can vary due to the elliptical nature of their orbits.
See you in a few hundred years, or read more on this blog for updates ;)
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