By C. J. De Mel, Jadetimes News
The European Space Agency's (ESA) JUICE mission, the Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer, is making a groundbreaking journey back to Earth, but only for a brief visit. Launched in April 2023, JUICE is about to attempt an unprecedented "slingshot" maneuver, utilizing the gravitational forces of the Moon and Earth to adjust its trajectory toward Jupiter.
This intricate maneuver, known as a lunar-Earth flyby, marks the first time a spacecraft will leverage the gravity of both the Moon and Earth to alter its speed and direction. The precision required for this maneuver is immense; even a slight miscalculation could send JUICE off course, jeopardizing the entire mission.
Following its lunar-Earth flyby, JUICE will proceed to a flyby of Venus in August 2025. This will be followed by two additional flybys of Earth, all designed to aid the spacecraft on its long journey to Jupiter, which is approximately 800 million kilometers from Earth. Direct travel would require an impractical 60 tonnes of fuel, plus additional propellant for deceleration upon arrival.
To overcome this challenge, the mission team spent two decades devising a fuel efficient route, relying on the gravitational assists of planetary bodies. Already, JUICE’s trajectory has been meticulously adjusted to ensure it reaches the Moon and subsequently Earth at the correct angles.
On August 19-20, JUICE will enter Earth’s orbit, potentially visible in the night sky over Southeast Asia and the Pacific Ocean. The ESA website will provide real time tracking of the spacecraft’s path. During its stay, JUICE will remain in constant communication with ground stations worldwide from August 17-22, allowing for any necessary course corrections.
JUICE's primary objective is to explore and gather data on Jupiter’s icy moons—Ganymede, Callisto, and Europa. Equipped with a suite of remote sensing, geophysical, and in situ instruments, the mission aims to enhance our understanding of these celestial bodies and potentially contribute to the search for extraterrestrial life.
