On August 19, 2024, Europe’s JUICE (Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer) spacecraft achieved a notable milestone in area exploration by performing a gravity help flyby of the Moon. The probe got here inside 465 miles (750 kilometres) of the lunar floor, capturing photos of this vital encounter. This manoeuvre is the primary a part of an unprecedented double gravity help mission, with the second leg set to happen when JUICE flies previous Earth.
Historic Flyby Captured in Pictures
The JUICE spacecraft, which was launched in April 2023, goals to check Jupiter and its main moons: Ganymede, Callisto, and Europa. These moons are believed to harbour subsurface oceans, making them prime targets for exploration. The Moon flyby was essential for JUICE’s trajectory, serving to to fine-tune its path in the direction of a future Venus encounter in 2025. This collection of manoeuvres will in the end set the probe on a course for Jupiter, with an arrival deliberate for July 2031.
Picture Credit score: ESA
The spacecraft’s cameras, designed primarily for monitoring the deployment of its photo voltaic arrays and scientific devices, offered uncooked photos of the Moon. These photos had been shared reside by the European Area Company (ESA), showcasing JUICE’s shut method and the Moon’s rugged terrain.
Strategic Manoeuvre for Environment friendly Journey
JUICE’s flybys are a strategic selection to avoid wasting time and gas. The gravity help from the Moon and Earth, adopted by the Venus flyby, will optimize the spacecraft’s journey to Jupiter. In response to Ignacio Tanco, JUICE spacecraft operations supervisor, this method successfully “brakes” the spacecraft, lowering the quantity of propellant wanted in comparison with conventional engine burns.
Throughout its Earth flyby, JUICE will come inside about 4,250 miles (6,840 kilometres) of our planet. Whereas there will likely be no reside feed for this encounter as a consequence of communication constraints, beginner astronomers in areas resembling Alaska would possibly catch a glimpse of the probe via a telescope. The profitable execution of those manoeuvres underscores Europe’s rising capabilities in area exploration and highlights the intricate planning behind interplanetary missions.
