JUICE slingshots past Earth on its way to Jupiter
Europe’s JUICE spacecraft flew past Earth on September 28 for a gravity assist on its long journey to Jupiter. The probe passed 8,640 kilometres above the Indian Ocean.
Earth’s gravity bent the spacecraft’s path by about 20 degrees and boosted its speed by 3.5 kilometres per second. The manoeuvre saves fuel and keeps JUICE on course.
The Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer launched in 2023 and will reach Jupiter in 2031. It will study the giant planet and its moons Ganymede, Callisto and Europa.
Scientists believe the icy moons hide oceans beneath their surfaces. JUICE will look for conditions that could support life.
The spacecraft will fly past the asteroid 223 Rosa in 2029 for bonus science. Mission controllers said the Earth flyby went exactly as planned.
JUICE is the European Space Agency’s first mission to the outer solar system. The spacecraft carries ten science instruments built by teams across Europe, the US and Japan.
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