NASA Europa Clipper mission to explore 'alien life' on Jupiter's moon delayed by Hurricane Milton; key details inside

The delay comes as Hurricane Milton approaches Florida, where the Kennedy Space Center is located. (Image: NASA)

SpaceX and NASA have postponed the planned launch of the Europa Clipper mission, originally scheduled for October 10. The delay comes as Hurricane Milton approaches Florida, where the Kennedy Space Center is located. The space agencies will assess conditions once the storm passes.

"Once the storm clears, recovery teams will inspect the spaceport and the launch facilities for any potential damage," NASA stated on social media on Sunday. They added, "Teams have secured the spacecraft in SpaceX’s hangar at NASA Kennedy." The launch window extends until October 30, with hopes the rocket may launch by next weekend.

Teams have secured the spacecraft in SpaceXs hangar at @NASAKennedy. The next launch opportunity will be determined once the storm passes. More: https://t.co/2iZPSR5lpI https://t.co/7FQhkQspKG
NASA Europa Clipper (@EuropaClipper) October 6, 2024

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Mission Aimed at Jupiter’s Icy Moon
The Europa Clipper mission is set to explore Jupiter’s moon, Europa, after reaching the gas giant in 2030. The mission will gather data to determine whether the moon's subsurface ocean could potentially support life.

The mission will be launched aboard a Falcon Heavy rocket, which uses three Falcon 9 rockets and 27 Merlin engines. This triple-booster system generates over 5 million pounds of thrust, equal to around 18 Boeing 747 aircraft. Falcon Heavy is among the most powerful rockets in operation, capable of lifting nearly 64 metric tons to orbit.

In the future, SpaceX plans to launch an even more powerful rocket, Starship, capable of 17 million pounds of thrust. SpaceX is currently awaiting Federal Aviation Administration approval for Starship’s fifth test flight, potentially taking place in late November.

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