The Ariane 5 rocket of the JUICE mission takes off today with the aim of exploring Jupiter and three of its satellites

The European Space Agency (ESA) is already fine-tuning the latest details for the launch of the ambitious European JUICE mission to the Jupiter system, scheduled for today, if forecasts are met, on an Ariane 5 rocket. The objective is to explore the planet Jupiter and three of its satellites.

The van-sized spacecraft was finally assembled inside the rocket between April 1 and 3, awaiting liftoff from the European spaceport of Kourou in French Guiana.

After an eight-year journey, JUICE (Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer), will make detailed observations of the gas giant planet and its three large oceanic moons (Ganymede, Callisto and Europa) with a suite of remote sensing, geophysical and in situ instruments.

The mission will characterize these moons as planetary objects and potential habitats, further explore Jupiter’s complex environment, and study the larger Jupiter system as an archetype of gas giants throughout the Universe.

JUICE will constitute a scoop in the solar system for various reasons. It will be the first time that a probe gravitates around a moon that is not ours., Ganymede, the largest satellite of Jupiter. On its way to this planet, we will see for the first time an Earth-Moon gravity assist maneuver to save fuel, reports ESA.

Sener participates with the probe mast

The aerospace division of the Basque engineering Sener has contributed to the mission with the design, manufacture and verification of a 10.6 meter long mast for the Juice probe.

Sener won the ESA contract to develop, manufacture and supply the deployable mast (boom) of a magnetometer, whose purpose is to keep part of the instruments required for scientific experiments away from the magnetic interference of the ship, recalls engineering in a statement.

Antenna elements, manufactured in Gipuzkoa

In turn, the Gipuzkoan high-precision machining cooperative Goimek has collaborated with Sener Aeroespacial in the manufacture of a spacecraft antenna component.

As reported in a statement by the groupdanobatgroup to which Goimek belongs, the antenna operates both to achieve two-way communication between the spacecraft and Earth and to guarantee the operation of the radiofrequency experiment carried by the probe.