NEW DELHI: Nasa is set to unveil a special tribute as part of its upcoming Europa Clipper mission, destined for Jupiter’s moon Europa. Launching later this year, Europa Clipper carries a triangular metal plate designed to symbolize Earth’s profound connection to the enigmatic moon, which exhibits evidence of a subsurface ocean beneath its icy exterior, containing more than double the water found in all of Earth’s oceans combined.
At the heart of this cosmic artifact is an engraving of US Poet Laureate Ada Limón’s handwritten poem, “In Praise of Mystery: A Poem for Europa.” Alongwith a silicon microchip adorned with over 2.6 million names submitted by the public. This microchip, a nod to Nasa’s “Message in a Bottle” campaign, will be integrated into an illustration of a bottle navigating the Jovian system.
Crafted from tantalum and measuring 7 by 11 inches, the plate serves as a ‘Golden Record’ for Europa, showcasing graphic elements on both sides. The outward-facing panel features artwork highlighting Earth’s connection to Europa, including recordings of the word “water” spoken in 103 languages, symbolizing the universality of this essential element for life. The waveforms derived from these audio recordings are etched into the plate, radiating from the American Sign Language sign for “water.”
Inspired by the Voyager spacecraft’s Golden Record, which aimed to convey Earth’s diversity, the layered message on Europa Clipper aspires to spark imagination and present a unifying vision.
Emphasising the plate’s profound significance, Lori Glaze, director of the Planetary Science Division at Nasa Headquarters said, “The plate combines the best humanity has to offer across the universe – science, technology, education, art, and math. The message of connection through water, essential for all forms of life as we know it, perfectly illustrates Earth’s tie to this mysterious ocean world we are setting out to explore.”
Anticipated for 2030, after a 1.6-billion-mile journey, Europa Clipper will begin orbiting Jupiter, conducting 49 close flybys of Europa. Equipped with a suite of powerful science instruments, the spacecraft will analyze the moon’s subsurface ocean, icy crust, thin atmosphere and space environment to assess the potential for life. A massive metal vault, housing the instrument electronics, will be sealed with the commemorative plate to protect them from Jupiter’s radiation.
Central to the mission’s objective of seeking habitable conditions is the Drake Equation, etched onto the plate’s inward-facing side. Developed by astronomer Frank Drake in 1961, this equation estimates the likelihood of discovering advanced civilizations beyond Earth, guiding astrobiology research for decades.
The inward-facing side will also feature artwork referencing radio frequencies suitable for interstellar communication, symbolizing humanity’s use of this band to listen for cosmic messages. Known as the “water hole,” these frequencies align with radio waves emitted in space by water components.
The plate pays homage to planetary science pioneer Ron Greeley, whose early efforts laid the foundation for the Europa Clipper mission.
Project Scientist Robert Pappalardo of Nasa’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory expressed enthusiasm, and said, “We’ve packed a lot of thought and inspiration into this plate design, as we have into this mission itself. It’s been a decades-long journey, and we can’t wait to see what Europa Clipper shows us at this water world.”
Following assembly at JPL, Europa Clipper is slated for an October launch from Nasa’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.