Europe’s Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) is gearing up for a pivotal maneuver in its mission to the gas giant.
Scheduled to fly past Earth on August 20, 2024, the spacecraft will come within 4,200 miles (6,800 kilometers) of our planet, providing a rare opportunity to catch a fleeting glimpse of it.
Launched in April 2023, JUICE is Europe’s first mission to Jupiter, tasked with studying the planet and its largest moons: Ganymede, Callisto, and Europa.
These moons are believed to have subsurface oceans beneath their icy crusts, making them key targets in the quest to understand more about potential extraterrestrial life.
When and how can you spot JUICE?
The close flyby of Earth will occur at 5:57 p.m. Eastern Time (21:57 GMT) on August 20.
This will assist in adjusting the spacecraft’s trajectory through a gravity-assisted maneuver.
This flyby, along with a planned future flyby of Venus and two additional passes by Earth, is essential for setting JUICE on its course to reach Jupiter in 2031.
The European Space Agency (ESA) has advised that powerful binoculars or a telescope will offer the best chance to view the spacecraft.
Why is the flyby significant?
The flyby will serve as a crucial test for JUICE’s instruments. Notably, the RIME (Radar for Icy Moon Exploration) antenna, which faced deployment issues and electronic noise problems, will be activated for a performance check.
Engineers will have an eight-minute window on August 19 to assess RIME’s functionality and potentially adjust its operations.
“These maneuvers are akin to navigating a narrow corridor at high speed,” said Ignacio Tanco, the mission’s operations manager. He emphasized the precision required for successful execution, given the narrow margin for error.
Ground stations worldwide will be in constant communication with JUICE starting August 17, monitoring the spacecraft’s progress and making necessary adjustments.
JUICE to also fly past moon:
Before reaching Earth, JUICE will first glide past the Earth’s moon on August 19. The spacecraft will then approach Earth, with the closest view over Southeast Asia and the Pacific Ocean.
When the probe will be behind the moon, brief communication gaps are expected—such as a half-hour break on August 19—these are accounted for in the mission’s planning.
JUICE’s journey to Jupiter, which would have otherwise required 132,000 pounds (60,000 kilograms) of propellant, benefits from the gravity assists provided by the moon and Earth flybys.
This efficient use of fuel allows the spacecraft to carry only 8,000 pounds (3,650 kilograms) of propellant, with a reserve of 800 pounds (363 kilograms) used for trajectory adjustments.
As JUICE approaches Earth, its onboard cameras will capture images of our planet and the moon, which will be shared on social media.
(With inputs from Space.com)
