Europa Clipper deploys boom that will confirm if Jupiter's moon has oceans

The Europa Clipper Magnetometer (ECM) is poised to play a pivotal role in unravelling the mysteries of Europa's subsurface ocean.

In Short

• The magnetometer boom extends approximately 28 feet
• The instrument aims to confirm the existence of Europa's hidden ocean
• It will determine its depth and salinity

In a significant development for Nasa's Europa Clipper mission, the spacecraft has successfully deployed its magnetometer boom, marking a crucial step towards its ambitious exploration of Jupiter's icy moon, Europa.

The magnetometer boom, extending approximately 28 feet, houses three highly sensitive fluxgate sensors designed to measure Europa's magnetic field with unprecedented precision.

The Europa Clipper Magnetometer (ECM) is poised to play a pivotal role in unravelling the mysteries of Europa's subsurface ocean.

By measuring the strength and orientation of magnetic fields during multiple flybys, the instrument aims to confirm the existence of Europa's hidden ocean, determine its depth and salinity, and measure the thickness of the moon's icy shell.

Dr. Margaret Kivelson, the magnetometer team leader and a space physicist at UCLA and the University of Michigan, emphasised the significance of this deployment: "What we want to extract is the field generated in Europa. That's what we're after."

The ECM's capabilities far exceed those of conventional compasses, allowing for accurate measurements of magnetic fields and their variations over time and location.

The mission faces unique challenges due to Jupiter's complex magnetic environment.

The gas giant's rapid 10-hour rotation and the resulting high-energy plasma distort the magnetic field near Europa. Additionally, the spacecraft itself introduces magnetic interference.

To address these issues, the mission team will utilize data from other onboard instruments and sophisticated modelling techniques to isolate Europa's magnetic signature.

Europa's magnetic field is induced by time variations in Jupiter's magnetic field, likely through electric currents in its subsurface salty ocean.

This phenomenon provides a unique opportunity to study the moon's internal structure and potential habitability. The thickness of Europa's ice shell, which the ECM will help determine, is crucial for understanding the moon's potential to harbour life.

As Europa Clipper continues its journey towards Jupiter, set to arrive in 2030, the successful deployment of the magnetometer boom brings scientists one step closer to unlocking the secrets of Europa's mysterious ocean world.