NASA launched its Europa Clipper spacecraft Monday atop a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket for its first mission to Jupiter since 2011. The mission lifted off at 12:06 p.m. ET amid favorable weather conditions for the Europa Clipper to begin its six-year journey to Jupiter's icy moon Europa.
When it enters orbit in April 2030, the Europa Clipper will begin the task of studying Europa to confirm a subsurface ocean and to investigate potential habitability on the moon.
The vessel, which needed to launch by Nov. 6 to keep its schedule for orbit around Jupiter, is the centerpiece of a mission that NASA estimates will cost about $2 billion.
The mission joins Juice, launched last year, and Juno, which set out in 2011.
The liftoff took place at Launch Complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Continuing launch coverage has been available on NASA's Spaceflight YouTube page and on SpaceX's launch page and its X account.