NASA's Europa Clipper spacecraft has successfully tested its Radar for Europa Assessment and Sounding: Ocean to Near-surface (REASON) instrument during a flyby of Mars. This test marks a significant milestone in the mission's journey to study Jupiter's moon, Europa.
During the flyby, REASON transmitted and received radar signals that bounced off Mars' surface, providing valuable data to assess the instrument's performance. The successful test indicates that REASON is ready to operate as planned during the mission's primary objective: exploring Europa's icy shell and subsurface ocean.
REASON is designed to penetrate Europa's ice crust, allowing scientists to study the moon's internal structure and assess its potential to support life. The instrument's performance during the Mars flyby suggests it will be effective in its upcoming mission at Europa.
The Europa Clipper spacecraft is on a trajectory to arrive at Jupiter's moon in 2030, where it will conduct detailed studies to enhance our understanding of this intriguing celestial body.