NASA-SpaceX Delays Europa Clipper Mission Due to Hurricane Milton
NASA’s Europa Clipper mission, designed to search for signs of life on Jupiter’s icy moon Europa, has been postponed due to Hurricane Milton, which is expected to bring “life-threatening hazards” to parts of Florida.
Originally scheduled for launch aboard SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on October 10, the mission has been delayed as a state of emergency is declared in several areas of Florida due to the impending storm.
“NASA and SpaceX are standing down from the October 10 launch attempt of the Europa Clipper mission because of the anticipated hurricane conditions in the region,” NASA announced on social media platform X. They further stated that recovery teams would assess the safety of the spaceport and launch facilities for any damage after the storm passes.
While a new launch date has not yet been confirmed, NASA indicated that the launch window remains open until November 6.
Tim Dunn, senior launch director at NASA’s Launch Services Programme, emphasized, “The safety of launch team personnel is our highest priority, and all precautions will be taken to protect the Europa Clipper spacecraft.”
On October 4, the Europa Clipper spacecraft was transported from the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center to the SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket as part of final launch preparations.
The spacecraft is set to embark on a journey of 2.6 billion kilometers to reach the Jupiter system, with an anticipated arrival in 2030.
Hurricane Milton, which intensified into a Category 1 hurricane on Sunday, is expected to move from the Gulf of Mexico toward Florida’s Space Coast this week, bringing high winds and heavy rain to areas like Cape Canaveral and Merritt Island. This follows closely on the heels of Storm Helene, which devastated the southeast just 10 days earlier, claiming at least 225 lives with hundreds still unaccounted for.
