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On March 1, 2025, NASA's Europa Clipper Spacecraft captured a striking infrared photo of Mars during its flyby of Jupiter's ice moon Europa. The spacecraft utilized the planet's gravity to adjust its speed and orbit for the next leg of its lengthy interplanetary voyage, reaching 550 miles above the Martian surface. This encounter allowed the scientists to test E-THEMIS, a thermal imager designed to probe Europa's surface for potential life signals.
The Mars flyby is used to calibrate key instruments
According to a NASA assessment, the Mars flyby served as a vital instrument calibration moment for Europa Clipper. E-THEMIS began reaching Earth on May 5 after taking 1000 greyscale infrared photos over the course of 18 minutes. This current dataset was compared with thermal maps from the Mars Odyssey Orbiter to validate the imager's accuracy. Odessey's observations of Mars began in 2012, therefore there was a plenty of thermal data to compare.
Infrared Imaging for Detecting Geologic Activity on Europa
Phil Christensen studied the data and ensured that the photos captured by E-THEMIS matched the thermal data of Mars collected twenty years ago. E-THEMIS detects infrared light, allowing scientists to trace the temperature variations over the planet's surface.
When Clipper reaches Europa, the instrument will exploit this potential to find hotspots associated with recent geological activity beneath Jupiter's moon's ice crust. This indicates the quest for alien life.
Tracing Europa's Subsurface Ocean Using Heat Signatures
E-THEMIS imaging can help you identify Europa's hidden ocean, which lies closest to the surface. The ridges and fissures on the frozen moon are the consequence of oceanic forces. Warm temperatures in such locations might indicate earlier eruptions. Furthermore, it can lead to locations where the middle surface seawater rises.
Future flyby mission plans
For the first time in space, this Mars flyby also tested the radar equipment. The test went well, according to the data, but experts are still analyzing the results. Another Clipper will fly by Earth in 2026 before arriving on Jupiter in April 2030 to investigate potential habitats.
