On Oct. 14, NASA's Europa Clipper spacecraft began a vital mission. It will be investigating the potential habitability of Jupiter's icy ocean moon Europa — but first, it has to get there.

Though not on an "alien hunting" mission, as some have described it, there's no doubt that the Europa Clipper is an important step forward in our understanding of life elsewhere in the solar system. Europa is thought to harbor some of the essential elements for life under its thick and icy shell, including complex chemicals and water, so the Europa Clipper is tasked with decoding the habitability conditions of this Jovian moon. In doing so, it will help scientists better plan for missions that may have the potential to indeed hunt for living things, even if only by eliminating a once promising target.