From Newsgroup: sci.space.news


http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?feature=6755

NASA's Europa Flyby Mission Moves into Design Phase
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
February 21, 2017

A mission to examine the habitability of Jupiter's ocean-bearing moon
Europa is taking one step closer to the launchpad, with the recent completion of a major NASA review.

On Feb. 15, NASA's Europa multiple-flyby mission successfully completed
its Key Decision Point-B review. This NASA decision permits the mission
to move forward into its preliminary design phase, known as "Phase B," beginning on Feb. 27.

A highlight of Phase A was the selection and accommodation of 10 instruments being developed to study the scientific mysteries of Europa. The new mission phase is planned to continue through September 2018, and will result in
the completion of a preliminary design for the mission's systems and subsystems.
Some testing of spacecraft components, including solar cells and science instrument detectors, has already been underway during Phase A, and this
work is planned to continue into Phase B.

In addition, during Phase B subsystem vendors will be selected, as well
as prototype hardware elements for the science instruments. Spacecraft subassemblies will be built and tested as well.

The Europa mission spacecraft is being planned for launch in the 2020s, arriving in the Jupiter system after a journey of several years. The spacecraft

would orbit Jupiter as frequently as every two weeks, providing many opportunities
for close flybys of Europa. The mission plan includes 40 to 45 flybys
in the prime mission, during which the spacecraft would image the moon's
icy surface at high resolution and investigate its composition and the structure of its interior and icy shell.

The life cycle of a NASA science mission includes several key phases.
At each step, missions must successfully demonstrate that they have met
the agency's requirements in order to indicate readiness to move forward
into the next phase. Phase B includes preliminary design work, while phases
C and D include final design, spacecraft fabrication, assembly and testing, and launch.

For more information about NASA's mission to Europa, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/europa

News Media Contact
Preston Dyches
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.
818-354-7013
preston.dyches@jpl.nasa.gov

Dwayne Brown / Laurie Cantillo
NASA Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1726 / 202-358-1077
dwayne.c.brown@nasa.gov / laura.l.cantillo@nasa.gov

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