Europa Clipper Magnetometer

The Europa Clipper Magnetometer (ECM) is a spacecraft magnetometer aboard the planned Europa Clipper mission. It will be used to precisely measure Europa's magnetic field during consecutive fly-bys, allowing scientists to potentially confirm the existence of Europa's hypothesised subsurface ocean. If this ocean exists, the instrument will be able to determine its depth and salinity, as well as the thickness of the moon's icy shell.[5]

Europa Clipper Magnetometer
Rendering of the Europa Clipper spacecraft, with ECM highlighted in red
OperatorNASA
ManufacturerJet Propulsion Laboratory[1][2]
Instrument typeMagnetometer
FunctionMeasuring magnetic field to characterize subsurface features
Mission durationCruise: 3-6 years
Science phase: ≥ 3 years
Properties
Dimensions8.5 m (length, fully deployed)
Host spacecraft
SpacecraftEuropa Clipper
OperatorNASA
Launch date≈ 2025 [3]
RocketFalcon Heavy[4]
Launch siteKennedy Space Center

The magnetometer team is led by Margaret Kivelson, with Xianzhe Jia serving as deputy team leader.[5]

Overview
An exact replica of the boom that will be used for the magnetometer aboard Europa Clipper, designed as a test model.[1]

The ECM is a highly sensitive and precise magnetometer used to measure small changes in the characteristics of Europa's magnetic field, studying how they vary according to time and location. The instrument will be stowed in a canister at launch, and will have a total of three flux-gate sensors attached to it. It will deploy to its full length of 8.5 meters (25 feet) in the days after launch.[5][2]

The spacecraft contains over 300 individual sources of magnetic interference, such as magnets in the propulsion valves, and current loops in the solar arrays. As a result, the instrument will be mounted on an 8.5 meter boom to reduce the effect of this contamination, but will still need to be carefully calibrated in order to account for the effects of these artificial sources.[6]

One of the three fluxgate sensors that will be mounted along the boom.[2]

Originally, a more complex multi-frequency magnetometer (ICEMAG) was planned for inclusion aboard Europa Clipper. This instrument was ultimately scrapped, and later replaced with ECM due to cost overruns.[7]

Objectives

The primary objectives of the ECM instrument are:

  • Confirm the existence of a subsurface ocean under Europa's icy surface
  • If an ocean does exist, accurately measure its depth and salinity
  • Characterize the ice shell by determining its thickness

See also

References
  1. "Europa Clipper Magnetometer (ECM) Boom - NASA's Europa Clipper". NASA. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  2. "Magnetometer Fluxgate Assembly - NASA's Europa Clipper". NASA. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  3. Europa Clipper passes key review. Jeff Foust, Space News. 22 August 2019.
  4. "NASA to use commercial launch vehicle for Europa Clipper". 11 February 2021.
  5. "ECM | Instruments - NASA's Europa Clipper". NASA. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  6. "Magnetic Field of the Europa Clipper Spacecraft - NASA's Europa Clipper". NASA. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  7. "NASA Seeks New Options for Science Instrument on Europa Clipper". NASA. 5 March 2019. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
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