AkaSci 🛰️ on Nostr: Let's do a thread on the Europa Clipper mission, which had a successful launch ...
Let's do a thread on the Europa Clipper mission, which had a successful launch earlier today.
Both 14m long solar arrays have been unfolded and are operational.
Comms was established quickly after launch using the X-band link at 50 kbps.
The Ka-band high rate link has probably not been activated yet; from Jupiter, it will be able to send data at 500 kbps to a single 34m DSN station. Higher rates are possible using multiple DSN antennas.
https://blogs.nasa.gov/europaclipper/2024/10/14/solar-arrays-on-nasas-europa-clipper-fully-deployed-in-space/
https://eyes.nasa.gov/dsn/dsn.html
1/n
Both 14m long solar arrays have been unfolded and are operational.
Comms was established quickly after launch using the X-band link at 50 kbps.
The Ka-band high rate link has probably not been activated yet; from Jupiter, it will be able to send data at 500 kbps to a single 34m DSN station. Higher rates are possible using multiple DSN antennas.
https://blogs.nasa.gov/europaclipper/2024/10/14/solar-arrays-on-nasas-europa-clipper-fully-deployed-in-space/
https://eyes.nasa.gov/dsn/dsn.html
1/n