ESA Juice probe uses Earth gravity assist for Jupiter mission

The European Space Agency (ESA) Juice (Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer) probe has successfully completed a gravity assist maneuver around Earth. By utilizing Earth's gravity, the probe altered its trajectory by 20 degrees and increased its speed by 3.5 kilometers per second while consuming minimal fuel.

The closest approach occurred at an altitude of 8,640 kilometers over the Indian Ocean. During this phase, the spacecraft operated on battery power while passing through Earth's shadow. This maneuver serves as a vital calibration period for the probe's ten scientific instruments before its long journey to the Jovian system.

Among the onboard technology is an electromagnetic wave analyzer designed by scientists from the Institute of Atmospheric Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences. This instrument, which operates at frequencies convertible to audible sound, was developed with significant contributions from the Czech space industry. The Juice mission aims to study Jupiter and its icy moons—Ganymede, Callisto, and Europa—to evaluate their potential to support life, with an expected arrival at Jupiter in 2031.