How NASA simulates the vacuum of space to test Europa Clipper
Before embarking on a 1.6 billion-mile journey, NASA’s largest planetary spacecraft must survive extreme conditions. This video shows how engineers use a massive thermal vacuum chamber to mimic the airless, sunlit environment of deep space.
Mechanical systems engineer Tony Licost Licari demonstrates how the main body of the Europa Clipper was moved into JPL's historic 85-foot-tall, 25-foot-wide thermal vacuum chamber. Inside, the team simulated outer space conditions and practiced deploying instruments to ensure the spacecraft is hardy enough for its mission.
The spacecraft is destined for Jupiter’s icy moon, Europa, to investigate if the moon's subsurface ocean could support life. After a six-year journey, the mission aims to reach the Jupiter system in 2030. The spacecraft successfully completed these critical environmental tests in March 2024.
Source: Spacecraft Makers: Simulating Space to Test Europa Clipper
