The European Space Agency’s JUICE probe will launch Thursday on an eight-year trip, to determine whether Jupiter’s Icy moons can support extraterrestrial life in their huge, secret oceans.
The Jupiter ICy Moons Explorer (JUICE) has been given the go-ahead for its 12:15 GMT launch. On an Ariane 5 rocket from Europe’s spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.
“The weather conditions are good,” Guyana Space Centre director Marie-Anne Clair said in the control room on Wednesday. Where Belgium’s King Philippe was present.
The six-tonne spacecraft, which is around four square metres in size. It will separate from the rocket at an altitude of 1,500 kilometres (930 miles) about 30 minutes after launch.
Then JUICE begins its lengthy and meandering journey to Jupiter, which is 628 million kilometres away from Earth.
Because the spacecraft lacks the propulsion to sail directly to Jupiter. It will have to slingshot around other planets to gain gravitational assistance.
It will first travel by Earth and the Moon, then slingshot around Venus in 2025 before returning to Earth in 2029.
Then it will go on its perilous voyage to the Solar System’s largest planet.
Are we alone in the universe?
The spacecraft is encased in 500 layers of thermal insulation blankets to shield itself from temperatures. That are projected to rise above 250 degrees Celsius (480 degrees Fahrenheit) as it passes by Venus. Then fall below minus 230 degrees Celsius near Jupiter.
It boasts a record 85 square metres of solar panels that spread out to the size of a basketball court. Allowing it to absorb as much energy as possible near Jupiter. Where sunlight is 25 times weaker than on Earth.
When the probe arrives at Jupiter in 2031. It will have travelled two billion kilometres and will need to carefully apply the brakes to enter the gas giant’s orbit.
JUICE will thereafter concentrate on Jupiter’s system. Including the gas giant and its three icy moons Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto.
Its ten scientific equipment will investigate and study the moons’ weather, magnetic field, gravitational force. In addition to other aspects, including an optical camera, ice-penetrating radar, spectrometer, and magnetometer.
Carole Mundell, the ESA’s science director, stated that the Jovian system possessed all of the characteristics of a mini-solar system.
Scientists will be able to explore how our Solar System developed. And eventually attempt to answer the age-old question, “Are we alone in the universe?” she added.
The expedition will not be able to detect extraterrestrial life directly, but will instead attempt to determine whether the moons contain the necessary circumstances to support life.
Potential Hosts
Jupiter’s Icy moons, identified more than 400 years ago by astronomer Galileo Galilei, were long overlooked as potential hosts for life.
Previous space probes, however, have shown that deep beneath their icy shells exist vast oceans of liquid water – the primary component of life as we know it.
As a result, Ganymede and Europa have emerged as ideal possibilities in the quest for life in our celestial backyard.
The Europa Clipper mission, which is scheduled to launch in October 2024, will examine Europa.
JUICE, meanwhile, has set its sights on Ganymede, the Solar System’s largest moon and the only one that has its own magnetic field, which protects it from radiation.
In 2034, JUICE will slide into Ganymede’s orbit, the first time a spacecraft has done so around a moon other than our own.
