The European Space Agency (ESA) is launching the Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer – or Juice for short – mission tomorrow on an eight-year journey around the solar system’s largest planet.
The spacecraft lifts off from the European launch site in Kourou, French Guiana, on an Ariane 5 booster that is making its penultimate launch after more than 30 years of service.
Juice will observe Jupiter and its moons like never before, and will also fly past Earth and Venus on its way to the gas giant.
Here’s everything you need to know about the launch, including how to watch it live.
When will the juice be on sale?
Initially, Juice was supposed to enter the market. 13:15 Moscow time on Thursday, April 13.. However, due to bad weather, it was postponed at the last moment. Now he will fly into 12:14 BST IN Friday 14.4.
How to watch a live broadcast of a rocket launch
Tomorrow at noon we will show a live broadcast from the rocket launch.
You can also watch the launch live on the website. EKA TVor at YouTube channel.
What is the purpose of the mission?
According to the ESA, Juice will make detailed observations of Jupiter and its three major oceanic moons — Ganymede, Callisto and Europa — using a range of remote sensing, geophysical and ground-based instruments.
“The mission will characterize these moons as planetary objects and possible habitats, explore Jupiter’s complex environment in depth, and study the wider Jupiter system as an archetype of gas giants throughout the universe,” the agency said in a statement.
Juice will complete a series of new products in the solar system. It will be the first spacecraft to orbit a moon other than our own, Jupiter’s largest moon, Ganymede. On its way to Jupiter, it will also provide first aid to the Moon and Earth to save fuel.
The spacecraft will reach Jupiter in July 2031 and have spent three and a half years orbiting the planet, flying past the moons.
In December 2034, Juice will attempt to change Jupiter’s orbit to Ganymede. It will study the vast water reserves of Jupiter’s three oceanic moons to determine if they are habitable.
This article has been updated to reflect the delayed start date
Source: I News
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