ESA Launches Europe's First Mission to Jupiter

The ESA Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) mission is now on its way to Jupiter after its successful launch onboard an Ariane 5 rocket from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana, this 5,963kg satellite is tasked with exploring the gas giant Jupiter and its Icey moons. The mission is expected to take around 8 years to get to Jupiter. 

ESA JUICE mission timeline 

• Aug 2024: Earth & Lunar flyby 1  

• Aug 2025: Venus flyby 

• Sept 2026: Earth & Lunar flyby 2 

• Jan 2029: Earth & Lunar flyby 3 

• July 2031: Arrival at Jupiter 

The satellite is equipped with a variety of scientific instruments, including the 3GM radio package, which will be used to study the gravity field of Jupiter's moons. JANUS will map both Ganymede and Jupiter with a resolution between 2.4 meters to 10 kilometres, and RIME is a radar capable of studying the subsurface structure of the icy moons down to a depth of around nine kilometres. 

Head of space science at the UK Space Agency Dr Caroline Harper said, “JUICE will take us to a part of the solar system that we know relatively little about, to study Jupiter, our largest planet, and to investigate whether some of its icy moons are home to conditions that could support life.” 

In addition to its search for life, the JUICE mission aims to enhance our knowledge of the formation and evolution of gas giants such as Jupiter, as well as their moons. Specifically, it will investigate the impact of tidal forces on Jupiter's moons and explore the forces that drive Jupiter's weather. The data obtained will provide us with fresh perspectives and deeper understanding about gas giants and icy worlds.

You can track JUICE's current position on the ESA website here.