In June 2022, the European Space Agency (ESA) will launch the JUpiter ICy moons Explorer (Juice) mission, a flagship project that will send a spacecraft to study the Jovian system in detail. This ambitious mission is expected to reveal the secrets of the gas giant and its moons, and contribute to our understanding of the origins and evolution of the Solar System.

Juice will be launched on an Ariane 5 rocket from the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou, French Guiana. The spacecraft is the result of collaboration between ESA and its industrial partners, who have developed the spacecraft and its scientific instruments over the course of several years.

The mission will take about seven years to complete, during which time Juice will travel more than 800 million kilometers to reach its destination. Once it arrives in the Jovian system, it will spend three and a half years orbiting Jupiter and its moons, studying their composition, geology, and atmosphere in detail.

One of the key objectives of the mission is to study the four largest moons of Jupiter: Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto. These icy moons are of particular interest to scientists, as they are believed to harbor vast subsurface oceans that may contain life. Juice will use a suite of scientific instruments, including cameras, spectrometers, and radar, to study these moons in detail, with the goal of determining their habitability.

Juice will also study the atmosphere of Jupiter, which is the largest and most complex planetary atmosphere in the Solar System. The spacecraft will use a suite of instruments to measure the composition, temperature, and dynamics of the atmosphere, providing insights into the processes that shape the planet's weather patterns and magnetic field.

In addition, Juice will study the magnetosphere of Jupiter, which is the region of space around the planet that is dominated by its magnetic field. This field is responsible for creating stunning auroras, and also interacts with the solar wind to create a complex and dynamic environment. By studying the magnetosphere, Juice will help scientists understand how the magnetic fields of planets operate, and how they interact with the surrounding space environment.

The launch of Juice represents a major milestone for ESA and its partners, as well as for the scientific community as a whole. This ambitious mission will provide a wealth of data and insights into the Jovian system, helping us to better understand our place in the universe and the processes that shape our Solar System.

14-04-2023, 18:03 geschreven door Peter Motte