NASA's multi-decade quest to find life in Jupiter's icy moons

Space · Published 17 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Jupiter is not just a gas giant; it is a gateway to potentially habitable worlds. By sending specialized craft like Juno and Europa Clipper, NASA is peeling back layers of radiation and ice to see if the ingredients for life exist in our solar system's outer reaches.

NASA's exploration of Jupiter involves distinct missions with different objectives. The Juno spacecraft, a solar-powered orbiter, was designed to study the gas giant's interior, atmosphere, and auroras. It was scheduled to arrive at Jupiter in July 2016, performing 33 orbits around the planet's poles to gather data on its fundamental physical properties. The spacecraft was slated to depart from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. This specific launch was scheduled for August 5 at 11:39 am Eastern.

While Juno focuses on the planet itself, the Europa Clipper mission represents a significant shift toward astrobiology. NASA's biggest planetary craft, Europa Clipper, departed Kennedy Space Center on 14 October 2024. It is specifically tasked with investigating Jupiter's moon Europa, which scientists believe harbors a global ocean of water beneath a frozen surface. The mission aims to determine if this moon possesses the chemistry and energy necessary to sustain life. The orbiter is the largest planetary spacecraft ever constructed by NASA. It features massive solar arrays that can span 100 feet from tip to tip.

The logistics of these missions are immense. Europa Clipper must travel 1.8 billion miles (2.9 billion kilometers) to reach its destination by April 2030. To conserve fuel and gain speed, it will not travel in a straight line but will loop around Mars and Earth. Once it reaches Jupiter, it will begin a series of 49 close flybys of Europa starting in 2031. These flybys will come as close as 16 miles (25 kilometers) to the surface, using nine science instruments and a gravity experiment to probe the moon's secrets while minimizing exposure to Jupiter's intense radiation. The craft carries over 6,060 pounds of propellant for its long journey. It will launch atop a two-stage SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket with two side boosters.

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