Voyage to Europa: Tracy Drain Unveils the Intriguing Challenges and Boundless Opportunities of the Clipper Mission

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Are there locations beneath the icy exterior of Jupiter’s moon, Europa, that might be conducive to life? On May 28, 2025, at 7:30 p.m. PDT in Caltech’s Beckman Auditorium, Tracy Drain, lead engineer for the Europa Clipper initiative at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), managed by Caltech, will discuss the mission’s objectives and reveal some of the engineering hurdles faced in the creation and launch of this thrilling spacecraft.

In a public presentation titled “Europa Clipper—The Journey Begins!” Drain will explore the inaugural mission aimed at conducting an in-depth examination of Europa. Researchers theorize that a vast saltwater ocean exists under the moon’s frigid crust, which may be hospitable. The Europa Clipper, launched on October 14, 2024, is the largest spacecraft ever constructed by NASA for planetary exploration, featuring extensive solar panels for power generation and a robust enclosure to shield its electronics from the radiation contained within Jupiter’s magnetic environment.

“We’re heading to a place that’s incredibly exciting and is a prime scientific target,” Drain remarks. “It’s in an area that proves quite challenging to explore because Jupiter, my beloved planet, possesses an immense radiation zone surrounding it. Europa orbits within that radiation zone, presenting considerable technical difficulties even in planning a mission to study a moon there. Considerations include the journey there, managing the radiation, and supplying energy to a spacecraft positioned so far from the Sun. This discussion will provide insights into some fascinating developments encountered along this journey and hopefully inspire attendees to cultivate excitement over the next five years as we prepare for the scientific data this mission intends to deliver.”

Beginning at 6 p.m., members of JPL’s outreach team will be present on campus to address inquiries regarding the spacecraft’s construction and the scientific aspirations they expect the mission to fulfill.

Having grown up in Louisville, Kentucky, Drain describes herself as an inquisitive and studious young girl, whose curiosity was nurtured by her mother, who encouraged her to question the world around her. Despite her profound passion for astronomy, she opted for mechanical engineering as a more reliable career path and obtained a BS in the discipline from the University of Kentucky. Later, during her graduate studies at the Georgia Institute of Technology, she concentrated on controls and vibrations, and interned at NASA’s Langley Research Center, where her intern responsibilities centered on aeronautical research. Drain joined JPL shortly after attaining her MS in 2000 and contributed to the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, the Kepler mission aimed at discovering exoplanets, the Juno mission to Jupiter, and the Psyche mission to investigate an asteroid before becoming part of the Europa Clipper team.

The Watson Lectures provide new opportunities each month to learn how Caltech researchers are confronting society’s most urgent issues and innovating future technologies. Gather with a community of inquisitiveness outside Beckman Auditorium to enjoy food, beverages, and music together prior to each lecture. Interactive displays relevant to that evening’s subject will supply audience members with added context and information. The festivities commence at 6 p.m. Attendees are also invited to remain for post-talk coffee and tea, as well as the opportunity to mingle with fellow guests and researchers.

Discover more about the Earnest C. Watson Lecture Series and its background at Caltech.edu/Watson.

Watson Lectures are complimentary and accessible to the public. 

Pre-registration for this event has concluded. Please check the Caltech events calendar for standby information. A recording will be provided on our YouTube

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