It weighs 3 1/2 tons. Clipper is undertaking the first targeted exploration of an ocean world beyond our planet. Even if there is no life on Europa, this mission is crucial in the search for alien ...

The goal is to reach Europa, the smallest of the planet's four Galilean moons, in April 2030, as part of the first mission specifically designed to study the under 2,000-mile-across space rock.

The spacecraft will fly by Mars, then back by Earth, using the gravity of each planet to increase its momentum. These so-called ‘gravity assists’ will provide Europa Clipper with the velocity ...