Europe's explorer of Jupiter's icy moons
JUICE
The JUpiter ICy moons Explorer, JUICE, launched on 14 April 2023 on one of the final Ariane 5 rockets. It is travelling to Jupiter to study three of its large moons, all thought to hide oceans beneath their surfaces.
In December 2034 it is planned to become the first spacecraft to orbit a moon other than our own: Ganymede.
Key facts
- Agency
- ESA
- Launched
- 2023-04-14
- Launch vehicle
- Ariane 5
- Power
- Solar arrays (about 85 m²)
- Mission type
- Jupiter orbiter, then Ganymede orbiter
- Arrival at Jupiter
- July 2031 (planned)
- Status
- Cruising to Jupiter
Where it is now
Loading live position from NASA/JPL Horizons…
Jupiter in 2031, then orbit around Ganymede from December 2034.
Mission objectives
JUICE will characterise Ganymede, Callisto and Europa as potential habitats, mapping their surfaces, measuring their ice shells and probing the oceans beneath, while also studying Jupiter's atmosphere and magnetosphere.
The spacecraft
Its large solar arrays are designed to work in the weak sunlight at Jupiter. The spacecraft carries ten science instruments, including cameras, spectrometers, a laser altimeter, an ice-penetrating radar, a magnetometer and particle and radio-science packages.
Journey so far
In August 2024 JUICE performed the first-ever lunar–Earth double gravity assist, flying past the Moon and then Earth within about a day. It flew past Venus in August 2025, and further Earth flybys are scheduled before it arrives at Jupiter.
Route and timeline
- 2023-04-14Launch on Ariane 5, Kourou
- 2024-08-19First-ever lunar-Earth double gravity assist
- 2025-08-31Venus gravity assist
- 2026-09Earth gravity assistplanned
- 2029-01Final Earth gravity assistplanned
- 2031-07Arrival at Jupiterplanned
- 2034-12Orbit insertion around Ganymedeplanned
Surprising facts about JUICE
- Ganymede is larger than the planet Mercury.
- JUICE's route uses gravity assists from the Moon, Earth and Venus to reach Jupiter.
- It will be the first spacecraft to orbit a moon of another planet.