JUICE mission
- August 21, 2024
- Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
- Category: DPN Topics
JUICE mission
Sub: Sci
Sec: Space sector
The JUICE mission’s primary aim is to explore Jupiter and its major moons, which are thought to have subsurface oceans beneath their icy crusts. These moons—Ganymede, Callisto, and Europa—are of immense interest because they could harbor conditions suitable for life. By studying these celestial bodies, JUICE seeks to create detailed surface maps, investigate the moons’ subsurface structures, and understand their potential habitability.
Mission Timeline and Phases
Launch and Journey: JUICE was launched on April 14, 2023, from the Guiana Space Centre in French Guiana aboard an Ariane 5 rocket. The spacecraft, built by Airbus Defence and Space, is expected to reach Jupiter in July 2031 after a journey of over eight years, involving multiple gravity assists.
- Scientific Goals: The mission aims to: Map the surfaces of Jupiter’s moons and explore their subsurface water bodies.
- Investigate the origin, history, and evolution of Jupiter itself.
- Focus particularly on Ganymede, the largest moon in the Solar System, which generates its own magnetic field.
- Orbit and Operations: Upon reaching Jupiter, JUICE will enter orbit around Ganymede in December 2034. The spacecraft’s findings will complement NASA’s Europa Clipper mission, scheduled for launch in October 2024, which will also study Europa’s potential habitability.
Recent Milestone: Moon Flyby
The Moon Gravity Assist
On August 19, 2024, JUICE performed a crucial gravity assist flyby of the Moon, coming within 465 miles (750 kilometers) of the lunar surface. This maneuver was pivotal for adjusting JUICE’s trajectory towards its next destination, a Venus flyby in 2025, and ultimately, Jupiter. The flyby involved:
- Capture of Images: During the close approach, JUICE captured detailed images of the Moon’s surface, which will aid in the mission’s data collection and trajectory planning.
- Trajectory Adjustment: The flyby used the Moon’s gravity to alter JUICE’s path, effectively “braking” the spacecraft and conserving fuel. This technique is a cost-effective method to adjust the spacecraft’s speed and trajectory for interplanetary travel.
Earth Flyby Plan
The second part of the gravity assist maneuver will involve an Earth flyby, where JUICE is expected to come within approximately 4,250 miles (6,840 kilometers) of Earth. While this encounter will not be live-streamed due to communication constraints, it presents an opportunity for amateur astronomers, particularly in regions like Alaska, to observe the spacecraft. JUICE Mission Facts and Data
| JUPITER:
|