NASA’s Europa Clipper Mission launched on October 14, marking the first comprehensive examination of Jupiter’s moon Europa, which is believed to have an ocean containing more water than any other location in the known universe, including Earth. Although this mission does not specifically search for life, the presence of water has always been associated with life on our planet.
Europa is thought to conceal an ocean beneath its icy exterior, prompting the inclusion of an ice-penetrating radar instrument known as Radar for Europa Assessment and Sounding: Ocean to Near-surface (REASON). This tool will investigate the ice to find indications of the ocean while also providing insights into the characteristics of the ice itself, including its thickness and structure. Additionally, REASON aims to map Europa’s surface topography and composition and detect any water plumes that may be erupting from the ice.
Dustin Schroeder, an associate professor of geophysics and electrical engineering with expertise in radar technology related to glaciers, is part of the REASON science team, a path that connects back to his PhD studies at the University of Texas with Donald Blankenship, the leader of the radar team.
“Had you told my 18-year-old self that I would witness the launch of a NASA Flagship Mission, being involved in both science and engineering, I would have struggled to believe it,” said Schroeder.
While NASA emphasizes that the Europa Clipper is not a mission aimed at detecting life, it does focus on exploring the habitability of the moon. The spacecraft’s tools and investigations are designed to analyze the conditions affecting Europa’s evolution, its ice shell, and its subsurface ocean. A better comprehension of these factors will enhance assessments of its potential habitability and help refine future missions designed to search for possible life in areas where it is most likely to exist.
As for the potential outcomes of the mission, Schroeder mentioned the hope for discovering areas of potentially habitable water within the upper layers of the ice shell. Additionally, he expressed enthusiasm for the innovative dual-frequency, dual-channel interferometric radar data that will be generated, which represents a pioneering approach in planetary radar technology. This mission promises to yield significant advancements in both scientific knowledge and engineering techniques.
Schroeder’s work on Earth involves “Radio Glaciology,” which encompasses the science and engineering related to ice-penetrating radar. His research team develops radar systems to better understand the dynamics, behaviors, and sea-level impacts of Earth’s ice sheets and glaciers. The methodologies and technologies developed for the Europa mission are expected to enhance ongoing terrestrial research.
The preparations for the Europa Clipper Mission have already contributed significantly to research on Earth. The team has established a passive radar technique utilizing solar radio noise to investigate Greenland’s Ice Sheet. They have identified processes involving surface melt refreezing and fracturing within the shallow firn layer of ice. Additionally, efforts are underway to integrate active radar data with passive radiometer measurements for assessing ice sheet temperature profiles. The interconnections between the work for Europa and terrestrial studies highlight a remarkable exchange of ideas and methods across scientific disciplines.