The Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) spacecraft is making headlines as it embarks on an extraordinary journey, known as a “double world first,” according to the European Space Agency (ESA). On August 19 and 20, the spacecraft will fly past Earth and the Moon, leading to several critical manoeuvres on its path to Jupiter. Skywatchers in South-East Asia may have the rare opportunity to observe this incredible event.
Since its launch on April 14, 2023, JUICE has been travelling alongside Earth in its orbit around the sun. However, on August 19, the mission takes a pivotal turn as the spacecraft will approach within 700 kilometers of the Moon’s surface, utilizing a gravity assist to adjust its trajectory. The following day, it will come within 7,000 kilometers of Earth, further altering its path and providing an opportunity for keen observers to catch a glimpse of the spacecraft as it speeds by.
This maneuvering is crucial; if JUICE were to head directly to Jupiter, it would require more than 60,000 kilograms of fuel, which is unfeasible given its total mass of 2,420 kilograms without fuel. Instead, the upcoming flyby of Earth and the Moon will set JUICE on a path toward Venus, where it will pick up speed for its journey to Jupiter, expected to arrive in 2031.
The complexity of the first manoeuvre cannot be overstated. JUICE must navigate through a narrow corridor in space, as described by ESA’s Ignacio Tanco: “It’s like passing through a very narrow corridor, very, very quickly.” This unprecedented double-flyby of Earth and the Moon, combined with a double gravity assist, has never been attempted before, adding an exciting layer to this mission.
Should the manoeuvres proceed successfully, JUICE will not only be en route to Venus and Jupiter, but it will also conduct the first tests of its scientific instruments. This critical phase will allow the spacecraft to fine-tune its equipment while observing planetary surfaces, paving the way for its important mission to seek evidence of potential life on Jupiter’s moons.
