"Surreal, this just doesn't feel real," remarked Louise Prockter, the chief scientist for Europa Clipper, as she took in the historic launch environment amid an extraordinary moment.
Europa is roughly the size of our moon and is a striking ball of blue ice crisscrossed with crimson cracks, indicating its complex geological history and potential for life.
Beneath Europa's frozen shell lies a liquid salt-water ocean, creating conditions over billions of years that could have transitioned chemistry into biology, making it a prime candidate for alien life.
Europa Clipper will face a treacherous journey, navigating through powerful radiation belts created by Jupiter's magnetic field, a significant challenge for any spacecraft.
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