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[00:00.43] The American space agency NASA has cleared a spacecraft to launch next month to look for possible signs of life on Jupiter’s moon Europa.

[00:16.90] Agency officials announced plans for the Europa Clipper spacecraft at a press briefing last week.

[00:27.00] The launch window for the mission will open October 10.

[00:38.68] The spacecraft is to launch from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

[00:39.74] It will be carried to space aboard a Falcon Heavy rocket built by SpaceX.

[00:47.45] The main goal of the mission is for the spacecraft to collect data on whether Jupiter’s icy moon could possibly support life.

[01:00.46] Scientists have identified Europa as a good candidate for holding the right conditions to support life.

[01:11.09] Several studies have suggested it likely contains a very large ocean beneath its icy surface.

[01:20.39] In an online description, NASA says liquid water is necessary for planets or moons to support the “complex chemistry” processes that can make life possible.

[01:38.18] A huge, salty ocean likely lies beneath Europa’s surface and could hold “more water than Earth’s oceans combined,” the space agency added.

[01:51.20] Scientists have also discovered evidence of chemical compounds and energy forces – including very strong gravity – that could provide the right conditions to support life.

[02:07.40] Europa is a little smaller than Earth’s moon but is still one of the largest moons in our solar system.

[02:16.96] It is one of many moons orbiting Jupiter.

[02:21.75] Astronomers announced in 2023 they had discovered 12 additional moons orbiting Jupiter.

[02:32.10] NASA says the planet now has a total of 95 confirmed moons.

[02:37.68] It is estimated to take six years for the robotic, solar-powered spacecraft to reach Europa.

[02:47.51] The orbiter is the largest spacecraft built by NASA to investigate another planet.

[02:55.48] It reaches about 30 meters when fully open.

[03:00.00] The orbiter is expected to perform many flybys of Europa.

[03:06.10] Some may get as close as 25 kilometers away from the moon.

[03:13.01] After launching, NASA says Europa Clipper will fly past Mars, then back toward Earth, “using the gravity of each planet to increase its momentum.”