NASA's Europa Clipper on its way to Jupiter's icy moon shares first images of stars from space

NASA’s Europa Clipper mission is set to answer specific questions about Europa’s ocean, ice shell, composition, and geology. (Image Credit: NASA)

The spacecraft’s star trackers are helping guide it to Europa, ensuring a smooth journey to the icy moon.

NASA’s Europa Clipper is travelling through space, heading towards Jupiter’s moon Europa. Launched three months ago, it has 1.6 billion miles left before reaching its destination in 2030. While on its way, the spacecraft’s star trackers are capturing images to help with navigation.

These star trackers are specialised cameras that use stars as reference points. They ensure the spacecraft is correctly oriented, helping scientists point its instruments in the right direction. Recently, the trackers sent back their first images of space, showing distant stars 150 to 300 light-years away.

This version of a mosaic captured by the star tracker cameras aboard NASA's Europa Clipper on Dec. 4, 2024, features the names of stars within view of the cameras.(Image: NASA/JPL-Caltech)

Importance of Orientation and Science Goals
NASA engineers rely on star trackers to maintain proper communication with Earth. The system helps antennas stay aligned, ensuring smooth data transmission. Engineers at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory confirmed that the trackers are functioning well after launch.

The mission will conduct 49 flybys of Europa to study its icy surface and hidden ocean. Scientists hope to learn whether the moon could support life. Europa Clipper carries nine scientific instruments, including imaging systems to map the moon’s ridges and valleys.

Upcoming Mars Flyby and Future Plans
Currently, Europa Clipper is 53 million miles from Earth, moving at 17 miles per second. On March 1, it will use Mars’ gravity to gain speed and continue its journey. NASA’s mission teams are closely monitoring the spacecraft as it moves further into deep space.

Managed by NASA in partnership with research institutions, the Europa Clipper mission is one of the most ambitious space explorations. The data it gathers will help scientists understand whether Europa’s ocean could support life.