The Mission

The Mission follows NASA's decades-long quest to send a spacecraft to Jupiter's moon Europa. At the center of this scientific pursuit is planetary scientist Robert Pappalardo and his efforts to convince NASA to greenlight and fund an ambitious exploration mission. The book chronicles the complex intersection of science, bureaucracy, and politics within NASA and Washington D.C. Brown documents the struggles and setbacks faced by scientists and engineers as they navigate budget constraints, changing administrations, and competing priorities in space exploration. Through extensive research and interviews, Brown reconstructs key moments in the mission's development from the 1990s through present day. The narrative encompasses the broader history of planetary exploration while focusing on the personal stories of researchers dedicated to reaching Europa. This account illuminates fundamental questions about space exploration, scientific progress, and humanity's drive to discover life beyond Earth. Through the lens of one mission, the book examines how major scientific endeavors move from concept to reality in modern America.

Readers praise Brown's detailed reporting and ability to make complex space science accessible. Many note his skill at bringing personality and human drama to the technical aspects of NASA missions and Europa exploration. Likes: - Rich character development of scientists and engineers - Clear explanations of scientific concepts - Engaging narrative style that reads like fiction - Behind-the-scenes look at NASA politics and funding Dislikes: - Some find the level of detail overwhelming - A few readers wanted more focus on the science vs. personal stories - Occasional tangents that slow the pacing Ratings: Goodreads: 4.3/5 (300+ ratings) Amazon: 4.6/5 (150+ ratings) "Brown manages to capture both the technical challenges and human passion that drive space exploration" - Goodreads reviewer "The political machinations behind mission funding were eye-opening" - Amazon reviewer "Sometimes gets lost in minutiae, but overall brings the quest for Europa to life" - Library Journal reader review

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🌌 While Europa was discovered by Galileo in 1610, it wasn't until 1979 when Voyager spacecraft images revealed its icy surface, sparking scientific interest in the moon's potential for hosting life. 🚀 The Europa Clipper mission featured in the book faced multiple political battles, with Congress initially mandating the use of NASA's Space Launch System rocket despite it being billions of dollars more expensive than commercial alternatives. 🌊 Scientists estimate that Europa's subsurface ocean contains twice as much water as all of Earth's oceans combined, making it one of the most promising locations in our solar system to search for extraterrestrial life. 👨‍🚀 Author David W. Brown spent seven years embedded with scientists, following their quest to launch the Europa mission, attending conferences, and even moving to Houston to better understand the space community. 🔬 The instruments planned for the Europa Clipper mission include ice-penetrating radar, which can "see" through up to 30 kilometers of ice to study the moon's mysterious subsurface ocean.