the Juice – Jupiter’s Icy Moons Explorer Successfully completed an unprecedented maneuver by performing The world’s first flight around the moon and the EarthThe aim of the operation was to use the gravity of the Earth and the Moon to redirect the probe towards Venus, in what would be a A crucial step in our long journey to explore Jupiter’s icy moons..
The maneuver was It was executed with such precision that the European Space Agency compared it to the challenge of catching three fast trains in a row.The initial approach to the Moon occurred at 23:15 CEST on August 19, followed by a close approach to Earth just over 24 hours later, at 23:56 CEST on August 20. During the flyby, The probe came just 6,840 kilometers from Earth, taking detailed images and collecting scientific data using its instruments..
“The gravity-assisted flight was perfect, everything went smoothly,” said Ignacio Tanco, mission operations manager, according to the European Space Agency.
While flying, The moon’s gravity increased Gus’s speed by 0.9 km/s. Relating to the sun, While Earth’s gravity slowed it down by 4.8 km/s.And change its course towards Venus as desired.
View the graphs that explain the task.
European Space Agency details that This 100-degree angular deviation was crucial to ensuring that the probe followed the correct path to Jupiter, where it is supposed to arrive in 2031..
A video released by the European Space Agency in anticipation of the practical maneuver shows
The juicer’s mission is to A detailed study of three of Jupiter’s largest moons: Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto.To do so, you will face a complex journey through the solar system, passing by Venus before reaching the gas giant.
In addition to redirecting the probe, Flying close to the Earth and Moon saved between 100 and 150 kg of fuel, conserving resources for future phases of the mission. and allowing the probe to get closer to Ganymede than initially planned.
As shown on Opportunity to test JOS’s scientific instruments in real flight conditions.with images and data to be analyzed in the coming weeks, in important detail to prepare for the probe’s arrival at Jupiter.
Launched in April 2023, The primary goal of the JUICE mission is to explore Jupiter and its three largest icy moons: Ganymede, Callisto, and Europa.These satellites have great scientific importance because they: They are believed to contain oceans of liquid water beneath their icy surfaces, making them potential locations for life.. It will also study Jupiter’s atmosphere and magnetosphere.Seeks to better understand the dynamics of the largest planet in the solar system.
See photos from the mission launch in the gallery.
It is expected that juice It arrives at Jupiter in July 2031, after a complex eight-year journey until 2034.With the possibility of extension until 2035.
The probe It integrates 10 modern tools, including some based on Portuguese know-how, as well as components manufactured by Portuguese companies as well..
