Europa Clipper Mars Flyby: Testing Instrument on Journey to Europa

NASA's Europa Clipper spacecraft took a close look at Mars using a special camera called E-THEMIS.

This was done to test and calibrate the camera while on its long journey to Europa, one of Jupiter's moons.

E-THEMIS takes pictures using heat, and scientists compared these pictures with old ones of Mars to make sure the camera is working correctly.

When the spacecraft reaches Europa, scientists will use E-THEMIS to find warm spots under the moon's icy surface, which might show where there could be signs of life.