The European Space Agency’s (ESA) probe, nicknamed Juice, took a successful trip past the moon to gain a “gravitational boost”, en route to Jupiter. This was a significant moment, not only for the ESA, but also for a group of physicists at Dublin’s Institute for Advanced Studies (DIAS).
There was no time for respite on Tuesday, as preparations were being made for another risky lunar fly-by due just prior to midnight. A high level of precision was required for these manoeuvres as the smallest deviation could jeopardise the mission’s success, according to the ESA.
Following this, the probe will be directed for another meeting with Venus by August 2025, which will catapult the spacecraft on its journey to the massive planet, and it is expected to reach Jupiter by July 2031. DIAS is tracking the course of the spacecraft to ensure it doesn’t veer off its set path.
The inaugural fly-by was streamed live with the ESA launching memorable photographs to mark the historical event. Juice, which is short for Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer, came alarmingly close to the moon – just 750km away from its surface.
The purpose of this fly-by, according to Ignacio Tanco, Juice’s spacecraft operations manager, was not to speed up the spacecraft but to slow it down. “Following this sequence of first Earth and then Venus, cuts down the travel time by around six months and we intend to reach Jupiter approximately by July 2031,” he explained. “This approach, though it seems counterintuitive by slowing down first, effectively results in the minimum cruising time.”
Speaking on this achievement, Prof Caitríona Jackman from DIAS’s Planetary Magnetospheres Group commented, “It’s always fulfilling when things work out as planned. We had immense faith in the flight dynamics team. It’s a promising start.”
A sum of 10 DIAS surveillance tools were put into operation four hours before the fly-by and maintained for an equal duration following it. In the ensuing days, their performance will be assessed, stated a spokesperson, adding that this measure is taken to ensure the equipment is calibrated accurately, as the risks are elevated when reaching Jupiter.
Upon arrival, Juice will initiate its probe of two of Jupiter’s large moons, Europa and Ganymede, with the aim to identify potential indications of life in their frozen, ocean-covered surfaces.
Recently, during an ESA briefing, the significance of gravity to Juice’s propulsion was discussed. ESA stated that gravity is a capricious ally, providing intermittent thrust en-route, yet it harbours the potential to cause disruption at any given moment.