Notes

Jupitor probe to stage first lunar-earth double fly-by manoeuvre

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Last Updated22/08/2024

In a novel double manoeuvre, the JUICE probe will use the gravity of the moon to swing towards the earth and then use the earth’s gravity to slow down.

European scientists embarked on a groundbreaking mission in space exploration on August 19-20, performing the first-ever double slingshot maneuver using the Earth's gravity to propel the European Space Agency's (ESA) Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) towards its distant destination.

The JUICE probe, launched by ESA in 2022, is designed to explore Jupiter and its three largest moons—Callisto, Europa, and Ganymede—by 2031. These moons are of particular interest to scientists because of their potential to harbor oceans beneath their icy surfaces, raising questions about the possibility of life beyond Earth.

To reach Jupiter without requiring an impractically large rocket, ESA engineers planned a series of gravity assists. The first of these was executed on August 19-20, when JUICE used the gravitational pull of both the Moon and Earth in quick succession to alter its trajectory.
Lunar Assist: The probe first utilized the Moon's gravity to swing towards Earth, carefully adjusting its path to set up the next stage of the maneuver.
Earth Assist: JUICE then harnessed Earth's gravity to slow down, a crucial step to put it on the correct trajectory towards Venus and, ultimately, Jupiter.
As Nicolas Altobelli, JUICE Mission Manager, explained, such precision was necessary to avoid costly course corrections that would deplete the probe's limited propellant.

If the double slingshot maneuver proves successful, JUICE will continue its journey with additional gravity assists from Venus in 2025 and Earth again in 2026 and 2029. These carefully timed maneuvers are essential for conserving fuel and ensuring the spacecraft's arrival at Jupiter in 2031.