Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer

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For the proposed NASA spacecraft, see Jupiter Icy Moons Orbiter.

Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer
JUICE spacecraft.png
Artist's impression of the JUICE spacecraft
NamesJUICE
Mission typePlanetary science
OperatorESA
Mission durationCruise phase: 8 years
Science phase: 3.5 years
Spacecraft properties
ManufacturerAirbus Defence and Space
Launch mass4,800 kg (10,600 lb)[1]
Dry mass1,900 kg (4,200 lb)
Power820 watts [2] from a solar panel ~100 m2 (1,100 sq ft)[3]
Start of mission
Launch dateApril 2023 (planned)[4]
RocketAriane 5 ECA
Launch siteCentre Spatial Guyanais, ELA-3
ContractorArianespace
Flyby of Moon
Closest approach1 September 2023
Distance300 km (190 mi)
Flyby of Earth
Closest approach2 September 2023
Distance180,000 km (110,000 mi)
Flyby of Earth
Closest approach23 August 2024
Distance13,400 km (8,300 mi)
Flyby of Venus
Closest approach31 August 2025
Distance5,100 km (3,200 mi)
Flyby of Earth
Closest approach29 September 2026
Distance8,600 km (5,300 mi)
Flyby of Earth
Closest approach18 January 2029
Distance4,600 km (2,900 mi)
Jupiter orbiter
Orbital insertionAugust 2031 (planned)
Orbital departureSeptember 2032
Ganymede orbiter
Orbital insertionSeptember 2032 (planned)
JUICE mission logo
JUICE mission insignia
Cosmic Vision
← Euclid
SMILE →
 

The Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) is an interplanetary spacecraft in development by the European Space Agency (ESA) with Airbus Defence and Space as the main contractor. The mission will study three of Jupiter's Galilean moons: Ganymede, Callisto, and Europa (excluding the more volcanically active Io) all of which are thought to have significant bodies of liquid water beneath their surfaces, making them potentially habitable environments.[5]

The spacecraft is set for launch in April 2023[4] and will reach Jupiter in August 2031 after six gravity assists and eight years of travel.[6][7][8] By September 2032, the spacecraft will enter orbit around Ganymede for its close up science mission, becoming the first spacecraft to orbit a moon other than the moon of Earth. The selection of this mission for the L1 launch slot of ESA's Cosmic Vision science programme was announced on 2 May 2012.[9] Its period of operations will overlap with NASA's Europa Clipper mission, launching in 2024.

History[]

A concept art for the Jupiter Ganymede Orbiter, the ESA component of the proposed Europa Jupiter System Mission – Laplace

The mission started as a reformulation of the Jupiter Ganymede Orbiter proposal, which was to be ESA's component of the cancelled Europa Jupiter System Mission – Laplace (EJSM-Laplace).[10] It became a candidate for the first L-class mission (L1) of the ESA Cosmic Vision Programme, and its selection was announced on 2 May 2012.[9]

In April 2012, JUICE was recommended over the proposed Advanced Telescope for High Energy Astrophysics (ATHENA) X-ray telescope and a gravitational wave observatory (New Gravitational wave Observatory (NGO)).[11][12] In July 2015, Airbus Defence and Space was selected as the prime contractor to design and build the probe, to be assembled in Toulouse, France.[13]

Timeline[]

Launch and trajectory[]

JUICE will be launched in April 2023 on an Ariane 5 launch vehicle. Following the launch, there will be multiple planned gravity assists to put JUICE on a trajectory to Jupiter: a flyby of the Moon in September 2023, Earth in September 2023, second flyby of Earth in August 2024, Venus in August 2025, third flyby of Earth in September 2026, and a final fourth flyby of Earth in January 2029.[7]

Arrival to the Jovian system[]

In July 2031, when it arrives in Jupiter's system, JUICE will first perform a flyby of Ganymede in preparation for Jupiter orbital insertion ≈ 7.5 hours later. The first orbit will be elongated, with subsequent orbits gradually lowered over time, resulting in a circular orbit around Jupiter.

The first Europa flyby will take place in 2031. JUICE will enter a high inclination orbit to allow exploration of Jupiter's polar regions and to study Jupiter's magnetosphere. A Callisto flyby will put JUICE on a normal equatorial orbit. Additionally, a transit of Europa and Io will occur on 27 January 2032.

Orbital insertion on Ganymede[]

In September 2032, JUICE will enter an elliptical orbit around Ganymede, becoming the first spacecraft to orbit a moon other than Earth's Moon. The first orbit will be at a distance of 5,000 km (3,100 mi). In February 2033, JUICE will enter a circular orbit 500 km (310 mi) above the surface of Ganymede. JUICE will study Ganymede's composition and magnetosphere among other things.

Planned deorbit on Ganymede[]

When the spacecraft consumes its propellant, JUICE is planned to be deorbited and impact Ganymede in February 2034.[14]

Science objectives[]

Ganymede view by Galileo
Section of Europa's icy surface

The Jupiter Icy moons Explorer orbiter will perform detailed investigations on Ganymede and evaluate its potential to support life. Investigations of Europa and Callisto will complete a comparative picture of these Galilean moons.[15] The three moons are thought to harbour internal liquid water oceans, and so are central to understanding the habitability of icy worlds.

The main science objectives for Ganymede, and to a lesser extent for Callisto, are:[15]

  • Characterisation of the ocean layers and detection of putative subsurface water reservoirs
  • Topographical, geological and compositional mapping of the surface
  • Study of the physical properties of the icy crusts
  • Characterisation of the internal mass distribution, dynamics and evolution of the interiors
  • Investigation of Ganymede's tenuous atmosphere
  • Study of Ganymede's intrinsic magnetic field and its interactions with the Jovian magnetosphere.

For Europa, the focus is on the chemistry essential to life, including organic molecules, and on understanding the formation of surface features and the composition of the non-water-ice material. Furthermore, JUICE will provide the first subsurface sounding of the moon, including the first determination of the minimal thickness of the icy crust over the most recently active regions.

More distant spatially resolved observations will also be carried out for several minor irregular satellites and the volcanically active moon Io.

Spacecraft[]

Design drivers[]

The main spacecraft design drivers are related to the large distance to the Sun, the use of solar power, and Jupiter's harsh radiation environment. The orbit insertions at Jupiter and Ganymede and the large number of flyby manoeuvres (more than 25 gravity assists, and two Europa flybys) requires the spacecraft to carry about 3,000 kg (6,600 lb) of chemical propellant.[16]

Gravity assists include:[1]

  • Interplanetary transfer (Earth, Venus, Earth, Mars, Earth)
  • Jupiter orbit insertion and apocentre reduction with multiple Ganymede gravity assists
  • Reduction of velocity with Ganymede–Callisto assists
  • Increase inclination with 10–12 Callisto gravity assists

Science instruments[]

On 21 February 2013, after a competition, 11 science instruments were selected by ESA, which are being developed by science and engineering teams from all over Europe, with participation from the US.[17][18][19][20]
Japan will also contribute several components for SWI, RPWI, GALA, PEP, JANUS and J-MAG instruments, and will facilitate testing.[21][22][23]

Jovis, Amorum ac Natorum Undique Scrutator (JANUS)[]

A camera system to image Ganymede and interesting parts of the surface of Callisto at better than 400 m/pixel (resolution limited by mission data volume). Selected targets will be investigated in high-resolution with a spatial resolution from 25 m/pixel down to 2.4 m/pixel with a 1.3° field of view. The camera system has 13 panchromatic, broad and narrow-band filters in the 0.36 µm to 1.1 µm range, and provides stereo imaging capabilities. JANUS will also allow relating spectral, laser and radar measurements to geomorphology and thus will provide the overall geological context.

  • Principal investigator: P. Palumbo, Parthenope University of Naples, Italy.
  • Co-investigator: J. Haruyama, JAXA, Japan.
  • Lead funding agency: ASI, Italy.

Moons and Jupiter Imaging Spectrometer (MAJIS)[]

A visible and infrared imaging spectrograph operating from 500 nm to 5.50 µm, with spectral resolution of 3–7 nm, that will observe tropospheric cloud features and minor gas species on Jupiter and will investigate the composition of ices and minerals on the surfaces of the icy moons. The spatial resolution will be down to 75 m (246 ft) on Ganymede and about 100 km (62 mi) on Jupiter.

  • Principal investigator: Y. Langevin, Institut d'Astrophysique Spatiale, France.
  • Lead funding agency: CNES, France.

UV Imaging Spectrograph (UVS)[]

An imaging spectrograph operating in the wavelength range 55–210 nm with spectral resolution of <0.6 nm that will characterise exospheres and aurorae of the icy moons, including plume searches on Europa, and study the Jovian upper atmosphere and aurorae. Resolution up to 500 m (1,600 ft) observing Ganymede and up to 250 km (160 mi) observing Jupiter.

  • Principal investigator: R. Gladstone, Southwest Research Institute, United States.
  • Lead funding agency: NASA, United States.

Sub-millimeter Wave Instrument (SWI)[]

A spectrometer using a 30 cm (12 in) antenna and working in 1080–1275 GHz and 530–601 GHz with spectral resolving power of ~107 that will study Jupiter's stratosphere and troposphere, and the exospheres and surfaces of the icy moons.

  • Principal investigator: P. Hartogh, Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research, Germany.
  • Co-investigator: Y. Kasai NICT, Japan.
  • Lead funding agency: DLR, Germany.

Ganymede Laser Altimeter (GALA)[]

A laser altimeter with a 20 m (66 ft) spot size and 10 cm (3.9 in) vertical resolution at 200 km (120 mi) intended for studying topography of icy moons and tidal deformations of Ganymede.

  • Principal investigator: H. Hussmann, DLR, Institute for Planetary Research, Germany.
  • Co-investigator: K. Enya, JAXA, Japan.
  • Lead funding agency: DLR, Germany.
  • Developer & Manufacturer: Hensoldt Optronics GmbH, Oberkochen, Germany.

Radar for Icy Moons Exploration (RIME)[]

An ice-penetrating radar working at frequency of 9 MHz (1 and 3 MHz bandwidth) emitted by a 16 m (52 ft) antenna; will be used to study the subsurface structure of Jovian moons down to 9 km (5.6 mi) depth with vertical resolution up to 30 m (98 ft) in ice.

  • Principal investigator: L. Bruzzone, University of Trento, Italy.
  • Lead funding agency: ASI, Italy.

JUICE-Magnetometer (J-MAG)[]

Will study the subsurface oceans of the icy moons and the interaction of Jovian magnetic field with the magnetic field of Ganymede using a sensitive magnetometer.

  • Principal investigator: Michele Dougherty, Imperial College London, United Kingdom.
  • Co-investigators A. Matsuoka, Kyoto University, Japan.
  • Lead funding agency: UKSA, United Kingdom.

Particle Environment Package (PEP)[]

A suite of six sensors to study the magnetosphere of Jupiter and its interactions with the Jovian moons. PEP will measure positive and negative ions, electrons, exospheric neutral gas, thermal plasma and energetic neutral atoms present in all domains of the Jupiter system from 1 meV to 1 MeV energy.

  • Principal investigator: S. Barabash, Swedish Institute of Space Physics, Sweden.
  • Co-princial investigators: P. Wurz, University of Bern, Switzerland; P. Brandt, JPL, United States.
  • Lead funding agency: SNSA, Sweden.

Radio and Plasma Wave Investigation (RPWI)[]

Will characterise the plasma environment and radio emissions around the spacecraft, it is composed of four experiments: GANDALF, MIME, FRODO and JENRAGE. RPWI will use four Langmuir probes, each one mounted at the end of its own dedicated boom, and sensitive up to 1.6 MHz to characterize plasma and receivers in the frequency range 80 kHz to 45 MHz to measure radio emissions.

  • Principal investigator: J.-E. Wahlund, Swedish Institute of Space Physics, Sweden.
  • Co-princial investigators: B. Cecconi, , France; Y. Kasaba, Tohoku University, Japan; I. Müeller-Wodarg, ICL, UK; H. Rothkaehl, CBK, Poland; O. Santolik, IAP, Czech Republic.
  • Lead funding agency: SNSA, Sweden.

Gravity and Geophysics of Jupiter and Galilean Moons (3GM)[]

3GM is a radio science package comprising a Ka transponder and an ultrastable oscillator.[24] 3GM will be used to study the gravity field – up to degree 10 – at Ganymede and the extent of internal oceans on the icy moons, and to investigate the structure of the neutral atmospheres and ionospheres of Jupiter (0.1 – 800 mbar) and its moons.

  • Principal investigator: L. Iess, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
  • Lead funding agency: ASI, Italy.

Planetary Radio Interferometer and Doppler Experiment (PRIDE)[]

The experiment will generate specific signals transmitted by JUICE's antenna and received by Very Long Baseline Interferometry to perform precision measurements of the gravity fields of Jupiter and its icy moons.

  • Principal investigator: L. Gurvits, Joint Institute for VLBI in Europe, Netherlands.
  • Lead funding agency: NWO and NSO, Netherlands.

Targets[]

The craft will encounter two planets and the Moon before arriving at Jupiter.

  • Venus (one flyby en route)

  • Earth (four flybys en route)

  • The Moon (one flyby en route)

  • Jupiter

  • Ganymede (flybys + orbit)

  • Callisto (multiple flybys)

  • Europa (two flybys)

See also[]

  • Exploration of Jupiter
  • Europa Clipper
  • Galileo — former Jupiter orbiter
  • Juno — current Jupiter orbiter
  • Jupiter flybys: Pioneer 10 / 11; Voyager 1 / 2; Ulysses; Cassini–Huygens; New Horizons
  • Moons of Jupiter
  • 17776

References[]

  1. ^ a b "JUICE (JUpiter ICy moons Explorer)" (PDF). European Space Agency. March 2012. Retrieved 18 July 2013.
  2. ^ Pultarova, Tereza (24 March 2017). "Europe's Jupiter explorer mission moves to prototype production". SpaceNews. Retrieved 25 March 2017.
  3. ^ Amos, Jonathan (9 December 2015). "Juice mission: Deal signed to build Jupiter probe". BBC News.
  4. ^ a b Woodall, Tatyana (6 January 2022). "Jupiter's moons are about to get JUICE'd for signs of life". Popular Science. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  5. ^ "ESA—Selection of the L1 mission" (PDF). 17 April 2012.
  6. ^ "ESA Science & Technology – JUICE". ESA. 8 November 2021. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
  7. ^ a b Witasse, O.; Altobelli, N.; Andres, R.; Atzei, A.; Boutonnet, A.; Budnik, F.; Dietz, A.; Erd, C.; Evill, R.; Lorente, R.; Munoz, C.; Pinzan, G.; Scharmberg, C.; Suarez, A.; Tanco, I.; Torelli, F.; Torn, B.; Vallat, C.; JUICE Science Working Team (July 2021). JUICE (Jupiter Icy Moon Explorer): Plans for the cruise phase. Europlanet Science Congress (EPSC) 2021. doi:10.5194/epsc2021-358. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
  8. ^ "JUpiter ICy moons Explorer (JUICE)". NSSDC. NASA. 28 October 2021. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
  9. ^ a b "ESA selects 1bn-euro Juice probe to Jupiter". Jonathan Amos. BBC News. 2 May 2012.
  10. ^ JUICE (JUpiter ICy moons Explorer): a European-led mission to the Jupiter system
  11. ^ Lakdawalla, Emily (18 April 2012). "JUICE: Europe's next mission to Jupiter?". The Planetary Society.
  12. ^ Amos, Jonathan (19 April 2012). "Disappointed astronomers battle on". BBC News.
  13. ^ "Preparing to build ESA's Jupiter mission". European Space Agency. 17 July 2015.
  14. ^ February 2017, Elizabeth Howell. "JUICE: Exploring Jupiter's Moons". Space.com. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  15. ^ a b "JUICE—Science objectives". European Space Agency. 16 March 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  16. ^ "JUICE—Spacecraft". European Space Agency. 16 March 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  17. ^ "ESA chooses instruments for its Jupiter Icy Moon Explorer". CSW. European Space Agency]]. 21 February 2013. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
  18. ^ "JUICE science payload". European Space Agency. 7 March 2013. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
  19. ^ "The JUICE Instruments". CNES. 11 November 2013. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
  20. ^ "Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE): Science objectives, mission and instruments" (PDF). 45th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference (2014). Retrieved 24 March 2014.
  21. ^ "JAXA – What is JUICE? – A "Great Journey to the Outer Solar System"".
  22. ^ Current Status of Japanese Participation to Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer "JUICE" Saito, Y.; Sasaki, S.; Kimura, J.; Tohara, K.; Fujimoto, M.; Sekine, Y. AGU; Fall Meeting Abstracts. Published in December 2015. Bibcode: 2015AGUFM.P11B2074S
  23. ^ [1] and [2] – Japan's contributions to JUICE instruments (in Japanese)
  24. ^ Shapira, Aviv; Stern, Avinoam; Prazot, Shemi; Mann, Rony; Barash, Yefim; Detoma, Edoardo; Levy, Benny (2016). "An Ultra Stable Oscillator for the 3GM experiment of the JUICE mission". 2016 European Frequency and Time Forum (EFTF). pp. 1–5. doi:10.1109/EFTF.2016.7477766. ISBN 978-1-5090-0720-2. S2CID 2489857.

External links[]

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