NASA's Europa Clipper is ready to launch: a mission to find life under the ice.

NASA has given the green light for the Europa Clipper spacecraft to launch next month. This decision came after thorough checks to make sure the spacecraft can handle the strong radiation near Jupiter. Concerns arose earlier this year about the spacecraft's parts, but tests showed they should work well enough for the mission.

The launch is set for October 10th using a SpaceX rocket, with a limited time frame for takeoff. If they miss this window, they must wait over a year for the planets to align correctly for the spacecraft's journey.

The mission's goal is to see if the ocean thought to be under Europa's icy surface could support life. The spacecraft will study Europa, a moon of Jupiter, flying by it 49 times and getting as close as 16 miles.

Although the spacecraft's parts may wear down from radiation during the flybys, testing indicates they should recover in the time between each pass. Teams worked tirelessly for months to make sure the mission could go on as planned.

The Europa Clipper is the largest spacecraft NASA has ever built for exploring other planets, measuring over 100 feet wide with its solar panels open. After a six-year journey to Jupiter, it will orbit the planet every three weeks, using its instruments to map Europa's surface.