The Mission

"Scientists believe that any extraterrestrial life in our solar system would most likely be found on Europa, a moon of Jupiter. This book chronicles the work of a tenacious team of researchers who have spent decades investigating that possibility, despite obstacles both bureaucratic (NASAs long-standing preoccupation with Mars) and physical: Europa lies within a 'pulsing, rippling' belt of radiation and is covered by an ice shell 'kilometers thicker than any hole ever drilled on earth.'" New Yorker Exceptionally absorbing and thrilling. ... This is a book celebrating the resilience and perseverance of a group of smart people who worked relentlessly to make a Europa mission a reality. ... The story up to here is worth being told, and The Mission does it masterfully. Nature Magnificent. ... This book cannot answer the question of whatif anythinglurks in Europa's dark abyss, but it masterfully reveals with remarkable clarity what lies within the hearts of the men and women determined to find out. Scientific American Brown is a nimble, gifted writer, downright Dickensian in his pointed descriptions and irreverent humor Browns language drew me in to the world of interplanetary science and made me a part of it. The Europa Clipper mission is scheduled to launch in 2024 and, thanks to The Mission, I will be looking up, dreaming of Europas oceans, and those plumes, and waiting for news of what we find there. Air Mail The Mission reads almost like a novel. Brown immersed himself in the lives of his characters and their work, coming away from his research with a richly realized story about fascinating characters." Houston Chronicle In The Mission, David W Brown tells the remarkable story of the team of scientists whose determination made the Europa Clipper mission happen, despite resistance from all quarters. BBC Science Focus, Ten Best Science Books of the Month "With deftness and vigor, David W. Brown brings to life the intricate science, the historical heft and, most exquisitely, the beating hearts at the center of his sprawling, immersive story. With rich characters, an epic struggle and a Herculean resolve, The Mission is an extraordinary tale, extraordinarily told." Megan Abbott, bestselling author of Dare Me and Give Me Your Hand Europa is the sparkly jewel of the Jupiter system and learning its mysteries is a delight, but it's the people and their dreams and their stories that shine in The Mission. David W. Brown deftly weaves together the science, the history, and the politics to write the definitive account of one of NASAs most exciting upcoming missions. Dr. Mike Brown, Caltech astronomer and author of How I Killed Pluto and Why It Had It Coming This is an epic, delicious, funny yet serious and inspiring account of the tortuous bureaucratic and engineering journey to send a robotic mission to Jupiter's icy moon Europa. For those of us who believe the search for extraterrestrial life is the most thrilling exploration of our lifetime, this is the book to read. Mark Bowden "Absolutely riveting from the very first page. David W. Brown is a beautiful writer who brings this incredible story to life in sharp, surprising prose. It is a true pleasure to read." Aryn Kyle, award-winning author of The God of Animals and Boys and Girls Like You and Me "This is one of the most impressive works of nonfiction Ive ever read. It defies genre in many ways. Its science, yes, but its driven by charactersbrilliant, real-life scientists with contagious determination. David W. Brown turns complex planetary science into lyrical, accessible prose... It was compulsively readable and astonishing in scholarship." Erin Entrada Kelly, Newbery Medal-winning author of Hello, Universe An enthusiastic account of an interplanetary probe

David W. Brown is a freelance writer whose nonfiction appears frequently in The Atlantic, The New Yorker, and the New York Times. His work can also be found in Scientific American, Vox, and Smithsonian. He is an Antarctic expeditioner, an endurance runner, a former U.S. Army paratrooper, and a veteran of Afghanistan. He is a graduate of Louisiana State University and holds a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing from the University of Arkansas at Monticello. The Mission is his fourth book. Brown lives in New Orleans, Louisiana.