【watch Lady Chatterley's Daughter (2011)】

Some 480 million miles away,watch Lady Chatterley's Daughter (2011) an ocean — harboring perhaps twice the water of Earth's seas — sloshes beneath the icy surface of Europa. NASA's going there.

This moon of Jupiter has long intrigued planetary scientists, as a number of missions have swooped by the world's cracked, icy crust. Now, for the first time, a spacecraft is dedicated to investigating the moon. It's slated to launch in October.

"Almost time to spread our wings!" NASA posted online this week. "At @NASAKennedy, our spacecraft has been outfitted with its solar array 'wings.' They're not only huge, but strong enough to withstand the harsh conditions around Jupiter's intriguing moon Europa."

---

You May Also Like

---

---

SEE ALSO: NASA scientist viewed first Voyager images. What he saw gave him chills.

What's more, the space agency has confirmed that a crucial part of Europa Clipper's infrastructure — the transistors that regulate the craft's electricity — just passed tests. Earlier this year, an agency evaluation raised concerns that intense levels of radiation around Jupiter could impair the mission.

"The Europa Clipper mission team recently conducted extensive testing and analysis of transistors that help control the flow of electricity on the spacecraft. Analysis of the results suggests the transistors can support the baseline mission," NASA wrote on Aug. 28. (The baseline mission means flying by Europa nearly 50 times between 2031 and 2034, which will provide almost complete reconnaissance of the Jovian moon.)

Mashable Light Speed Want more out-of-this world tech, space and science stories? Sign up for Mashable's weekly Light Speed newsletter. By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Thanks for signing up!

Europa's cracked, icy surface as captured by the Juno spacecraft in 2022. Credit: Image data: NASA / JPL-Caltech / SwRI / MSSS // Image processing: Kevin M. Gill CC BY 3.0

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

The spacecraft is giant. It's "the largest spacecraft NASA has ever developed for a planetary mission," the agency explained. When its solar-array wings fold out in space, the over 110-foot (30.5-meter) craft will be longer than an NBA basketball court. The large panels are necessary because the distant Jovian region only receives three to four percent of the sunlight that Earth receives.

"At Jupiter, Europa Clipper’s arrays will together provide roughly 700 watts of electricity, about what a small microwave oven or a coffee maker needs to operate," NASA explained. "On the spacecraft, batteries will store the power to run all of the electronics, a full payload of science instruments, communications equipment, the computer, and an entire propulsion system that includes 24 engines."

A bevy of cameras, ground-penetrating radar, spectrometers, and beyond will scan the world below for water, eruptions of water, and the composition of Europa's ice. Beneath the ice, for example, there might be evidence that Europa hosts hydrothermal vents on its seafloor. On our planet, life teems around these deep-ocean vents.

---

Related Stories

---

• Speeding space object triggered a warning. It wasn't an asteroid.
• NASA spacecraft saw something incredible near Jupiter's Great Red Spot
• The best telescopes for gazing at stars and solar eclipses in 2024
• NASA spacecraft spots dead robot on Mars surface
• If a scary asteroid will actually strike Earth, here's how you'll know

"Beyond Earth, Europa is considered one of the most promising places where we might find currently habitable environments in our solar system," NASA said.

The huge spacecraft's launch opportunities open on Oct. 10, 2024, and after looping through the inner solar system, will arrive at Jupiter in 2030.

The observations will be unprecedented. But even more exploration could follow: A potential follow-up mission, called Europa Lander, will settle down on this extraterrestrial world and drill into the still-mysterious ice.

• Entertainment
• Games
• Tech
• Deals
• Digital Culture
• Social Good
• Science
• Shopping

• DDR4 Memory at 4000 MT/s, Does It Make a Difference?
• Emma Watson had an awesome response to Trump becoming president
• 'Game of Thrones': Sam dropped THAT bomb on Jon (recap)
• Alexandria Ocasio
• Best keyboard deals: Save on Asus gaming keyboards at Amazon
• Blackpink made K
• Donald Trump and the media: An unstoppable DDoS attack
• Paul McCartney gives us all the ultimate #MannequinChallenge
• Instagram tests Storylines, a collaborative twist on Stories
• All 'Game of Thrones' Season 8 premiere reunions ranked by awkwardness

• Amazon makes half
• Oh no, Amazon made a robot that rolls around in your house
• David Harbour actually did the Hopper dance with penguins and all is right with the world
• Rivian R1T first reviews are in: A quick, quiet electric truck made for exploring nature
• Here's 1 emoji you definitely shouldn't tweet at J.K. Rowling
• Where's the Olympic French ice skater's medal for her mid
• How to start a huddle on Slack
• How Bachelor Nation’s favorite data scientist tracks everything from screen time to dress colors
• #TwitterLockout blocks conservative users, requires phone number
• Student who survived school shooting mixes humor with activism tweets

• Exceptionally rare radio sources detected in the distant universe
• 'Game of Thrones': The most shocking and brutal deaths
• 'Game of Thrones' fans are analysing Arya Stark's secret weapon design
• Brie Larson and Oprah bonding over 'Queer Eye' is absolutely perfect
• NYT Connections hints and answers for May 1: Tips to solve 'Connections' #690.
• For 'Game of Thrones,' museums teach us all about Dragonglass
• Brie Larson and Oprah bonding over 'Queer Eye' is absolutely perfect
• Internet Explorer exploit is trouble even if you never use the browser
• Best Samsung Frame deal: Free Music Frame with Frame Pro art TV purchase
• Alexandria Ocasio

• Dyson V8 Plus cordless vacuum: $120 off at Amazon
• Trump descends on White House for most awkward icebreaker ever
• This letter proves the Nixons saw Trump's victory coming
• Selena Gomez delivers a surprise Coachella performance with Cardi B
• Galaxy S9+ vs Pixel 2 XL Camera
• Will 'Game of Thrones' season 8 tie up these character loose ends?
• This Donald Trump waxwork will send shivers down your spine
• The Mountain from 'Game of Thrones' posts extremely hype
• Amazon Prime Grubhub deal: Save $10 off orders of $20 or more
• Lyft pulled electric bikes off the streets in NY, SF, and D.C.