Juice: ESA’s Jupiter mission completes third gravity assist

Juice, the first European-led mission to the outer solar system, has successfully completed its third gravity assist, a crucial maneuver that altered its course and increased its velocity. This maneuver, executed by engineers, helps spacecraft traverse vast distances within the solar system while conserving fuel efficiently. The Juice spacecraft, launched in April 2023, is on a mission to explore Jupiter and its three icy moons – Ganymede, Europa, and Callisto.

These moons are of particular interest as they could potentially harbor conditions suitable for life. Juice's eight-year journey will culminate with it becoming the first spacecraft to orbit a moon other than Earth's moon, specifically Ganymede, in 2035. The mission's primary scientific target is Ganymede, where Juice will conduct numerous flybys to study the moon's magnetic field, hidden ocean layer, complex core, ice content, and shell.

Juice will also perform flybys of Europa and Callisto, gathering valuable data on these moons' geology, surface, subsurface, activity, and environment. The flybys will allow scientists to test Juice's instruments and ensure the spacecraft's safety in the harsh environment of the outer solar system.