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Through the gravity assist from the double flyby, the spacecraft can take a shortcut to Jupiter via Venus, saving precious fuel and time.

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European robot probe to swing by Moon and Earth on way to Jupiter NEWSIE PRO NEWSLETTERSIE ACADEMYPODCASTSSHOPJOBSSpaceJuice: Jupiter-bound robot probe to attempt daring double flyby this monthOn August 19 and 20, Juice will perform an unprecedented maneuver: a first-ever lunar-Earth flyby. Updated: Aug 12, 2024 02:23 AM ESTMrigakshi Dixita month agoDepiction of Juice flying by EarthESA   The European Space Agency (ESA)’s Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (Juice) is about to embark on a daring mission that will be nothing short of a cosmic rollercoaster. Juice is on a quest to explore Jupiter’s icy moons, which could harbor conditions for life. But getting there is no easy feat. On August 19 and 20, Juice will perform an unprecedented maneuver: a first-ever lunar-Earth flyby. This means it will swing past the Moon and then Earth, allowing gravity to slow it down and modify its direction. ESA describes it as “the first-ever double gravity assist maneuver.” Through this gravity assist, the spacecraft can take a shortcut to Jupiter via Venus, saving precious fuel and time. “It will change Juice’s speed and direction to alter its course through space, but it’s a daring feat; the slightest mistake could take Juice off course and spell the end of the mission,” an ESA statement noted.  The spacecraft was launched in April 2023, and the mission cost roughly 1.5 billion euros ($1.6 billion).  Slingshot past Moon and Earth The immense distance to Jupiter, almost 800 million kilometers from Earth, renders a direct journey impractical without an extraordinary rocket. Propelling Juice directly to this gas giant would necessitate an impossible 60,000 kilograms of fuel on board. That is why the ESA believes this double gravity maneuver is its best shot. This daring slingshot maneuver was first envisioned over 15 years ago. It hinges on launching the spacecraft at the exact moment to ensure its rendezvous with the Moon and Earth.  On August 19 evening hours, Juice will skim past the Moon, where it will undergo a speed reduction. This will be followed by an Earth flyby roughly 25 hours later, resulting in a further speed drop. The flight controllers will next direct the spacecraft toward Venus.  The flyby is incredibly risky. Juice will pass extremely close to both the Moon and Earth, requiring pinpoint accuracy. “It’s like passing through a very narrow corridor, very, very quickly: pushing the accelerator to the maximum when the margin at the side of the road is just millimeters,” said Ignacio Tanco,  Spacecraft Operations Manager, in the press statement. This trajectory adjustment will position Juice for a close encounter with Venus in August 2025. Juice will then receive a series of speed boosters, allowing the probe to slingshot past Venus and the Earth. ESA describes it as “the space exploration equivalent of drinking three back-to-back espressos.” This will allow the spacecraft to eventually approach Jupiter. Juice’s journey. (ESA) Fuel-saving maneuver You may wonder why Juice’s pace will be slowed.  While it seems paradoxical to decelerate before a long trip to Jupiter, this maneuver actually maximizes fuel efficiency.  Using the gravitational attraction of planets, ESA can considerably reduce the quantity of fuel required for the journey. If Juice had sped up towards Mars, it would have to wait for a long time for the next planet to be in the right position for another gravity assist. Precise planetary alignment is crucial for a successful gravity assist maneuver.  By slowing down now, Juice can use the Earth’s gravity to adjust its path in a way that sets it up for future gravity assists from Venus and Earth. ESA calls it a “scenic route.” “This first ‘braking’ manoeuvre is a way of taking a shortcut through the inner Solar System.” The fuel conserved through this maneuver will enable the spacecraft to orbit at a mere 200 kilometers above ocean-bearing Ganymede’s surface, facilitating exceptionally precise scientific measurements.RECOMMENDED ARTICLES Mission operators have carefully adjusted Juice‘s course to ensure timely, high-speed flybys of the Moon and Earth. “They are confident of success, but this is a risky challenge that no other space mission has ever faced before,” ESA stated. Juice will be in constant contact with ground stations from August 17-22, with operators monitoring data 24/7.  “The lunar-Earth flyby provides a prime test environment for instrument teams to collect and analyse data from an actual surface in space, for the first time,” ESA mentioned.  0COMMENTNEWSLETTERThe Blueprint DailyStay up-to-date on engineering, tech, space, and science news with The Blueprint.By clicking sign up, you confirm that you accept this site's Terms of Use and Privacy PolicyABOUT THE EDITORMrigakshi Dixit Mrigakshi is a science journalist who enjoys writing about space exploration, biology, and technological innovations. Her work has been featured in well-known publications including Nature India, Supercluster, Th

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