The 2022 SLS cargo mission could be used to launch the Europa Clipper spacecraft, which past appropriations bills require to fly on an SLS no later than 2022.
NASA’s fiscal year 2019 budget request proposed launching Europa Clipper in 2025 on a commercially procured vehicle.
The report accompanying the Senate appropriations bill states that completing a second mobile launch platform will allow SLS to have a more regular launch cadence, enable earlier crewed launches for future lunar missions, and provide further opportunities for scientific missions such as the Europa Clipper.
The committee concluded that missions like Mars 2020 and Europa Clipper require a reconsideration of how NASA handles planetary protection policy development.
NASA’s budget proposal projected a 2025 launch for Europa Clipper using a commercially procured launch vehicle.
The Europa Clipper spacecraft is being designed for the more stressing gravity-assist trajectory case, which will expose the spacecraft to more intense thermal conditions due to a required Venus flyby.
The CJS subcommittee's bill specifies that Europa Clipper will launch on the Space Launch System in 2022.
NASA’s budget proposal offered $264,700,000 for Europa Clipper and did not include funding for a Europa lander.
The House appropriations bill calls for Europa Clipper to use the Space Launch System and to launch by 2022.
NASA requested $264,700,000 for Europa Clipper in its fiscal year 2019 budget proposal and requested no funding for a Europa lander in that proposal.
NASA’s budget proposal sought to launch Europa Clipper in 2025 on a commercial vehicle.