Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system, larger than the other seven planets combined. About 100 moons orbit Jupiter. Three of them have a thick crust of ice on top, with liquid water underneath. If so, then maybe life is possible there, or maybe life was possible there in the past.
These three moons are called Ganymede, Callisto, and Europa, and that’s where Juice’s mission is headed. The name is an acronym for Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer. It is the third mission to Jupiter ever.
To get to Jupiter, the probe makes a long journey through the solar system. It orbits the sun in ever-increasing orbits, using gravity to gain enough speed to cross. In 2024, 2026 and 2029 it will fly over the Earth, and in 2025 after Venus. In 2031 he will reach Jupiter to start research, and in 2034 he will fly to the moon Ganymede. This is where the mission will end. If all of the fuel on board is used up, the probe should get there in 2035. It’s the first time a satellite has orbited a moon other than our own.
See also. King Philip and Gabriel attend the launch of the Ariane 5 rocket
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