Produced by: Tarun Mishra Designed by: Manoj Kumar
The European Space Agency's Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) is embarking on a groundbreaking mission that involves a unique interplay of Earth and moon gravity to propel itself towards its journey towards Jupiter.
On November 17, JUICE executed a 43-minute burn, marking its largest manoeuvre to date. This burn, utilizing 363 kilograms (800 pounds) of fuel, positioned the spacecraft for an upcoming Earth-moon flyby, an essential step in its trajectory towards Jupiter.
Julia Schwartz, Flight Dynamics Engineer, revealed that the manoeuvre consumed almost 10% of JUICE's initial fuel load of 3,650 kilograms (8,047 pounds). JUICE, with a total mass of approximately 6,000 kilograms (13,228 pounds), stands as one of the heaviest interplanetary spacecraft ever launched.
Launched from French Guiana on April 23, 2023, JUICE's primary destination is Jupiter. Its mission involves studying the gas giant and three of its icy, potentially oceanic moons: Ganymede, Callisto, and Europa.
To reach Jupiter, JUICE employs a series of gravity assists, utilizing the gravitational tides of inner solar system planets to slingshot itself towards its final destination. This technique ensures fuel efficiency throughout the ambitious journey. The same technique has been successfully used by Indian Space Research Organisation(ISRO) during its Mangalyaan Mission. Similar sling shot technique was used by ISRO during the Chandrayaan-3 mission as well, which helped the agency to land a rover on the lunar surface. It helps in less fuel burn, overall reducing the cost of the mission.
JUICE's upcoming Earth-moon flyby represents the first-ever double gravity assist involving these two celestial bodies. The spacecraft's trajectory requires precise adjustments, making the recent burn a critical component of this intricate manoeuvre.
The initial burn, crucial for the Earth-moon gravity assist, accomplished 95% of the required velocity change, altering JUICE's speed by almost 200 meters per second (656 feet per second).
Following the recent burn, the European Space Agency will analyse JUICE's new orbit. A second burn will be calibrated in the coming weeks to fine-tune the probe's trajectory for the double gravity assist.
If the upcoming manoeuvres proceed as planned, JUICE may not need to use its main engine again until entering Jupiter's orbit in 2031. Minor trajectory corrections will be handled by the spacecraft's smaller thrusters.
The recent burn posed challenges, including uncertainties about the movement of liquid in the fuel tanks during acceleration. The team closely monitors this crucial data, emphasising the precision required for the spacecraft's intricate journey towards Jupiter. The outcome of these manoeuvres will determine whether JUICE is on track for its historic mission.