Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer
The Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (Juice, formerly JUICE) is an interplanetary spacecraft that was launched on 14 April 2023 from Guiana Space Centre in the French Guiana by the European Space Agency (ESA) with Airbus Defence and Space as the main contractor. The mission is planned to study Ganymede, Callisto, and Europa, three of Jupiter's Galilean moons. They are thought to have significant bodies of liquid water beneath their icy surfaces which would make them potentially habitable environments.
Artist's impression of the Juice spacecraft | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Names | Juice, JUICE | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mission type | Planetary science | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operator | ESA | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| COSPAR ID | 2023-053A | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| SATCAT no. | 56176 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mission duration | Cruise phase: 8 years Science phase: 3.5 years Elapsed: 10 months | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spacecraft properties | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Manufacturer | Airbus Defence and Space | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Launch mass | 6,070 kg (13,380 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dry mass | 2,420 kg (5,340 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dimensions | 16.8 x 27.1 x 13.7 meters | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Power | 850 watts from a solar panel ~85 m2 (910 sq ft) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Start of mission | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Launch date | 14 April 2023 12:14:36 UTC | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rocket | Ariane 5 ECA | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Launch site | Centre Spatial Guyanais, ELA-3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Contractor | Arianespace | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Flyby of Moon | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Closest approach | 19 August 2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Flyby of Earth | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Closest approach | 20 August 2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Flyby of Venus | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Closest approach | 31 August 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Flyby of Earth | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Closest approach | 29 September 2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Flyby of Earth | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Closest approach | 18 January 2029 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jupiter orbiter | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Orbital insertion | July 2031 (planned) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Orbital departure | December 2034 (planned) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ganymede orbiter | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Orbital insertion | December 2034 (planned) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Orbital parameters | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Periapsis altitude | 500 km (310 mi) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Apoapsis altitude | 500 km (310 mi) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Juice mission insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||
The spacecraft was launched on 14 April 2023 at 12:14:36 UTC and is expected to reach Jupiter in July 2031 after four gravity assists and eight years of travel. In December 2034, the spacecraft will enter orbit around Ganymede for its close-up science mission. Its period of operations will overlap with NASA's Europa Clipper mission, launching in 2024.