JUICE spacecraft gains 12,600 km/h boost via Earth gravity-assist

The European Space Agency’s Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) successfully completed a gravity-assist maneuver around Earth on September 28, 2026. Passing approximately 8,640 kilometers above the Indian Ocean, the spacecraft utilized Earth’s gravity to alter its trajectory and increase its velocity.

The maneuver increased JUICE’s speed by roughly 3.5 kilometers per second, or about 12,600 km/h, and deflected its path by approximately 20 degrees. This technique allows the spacecraft to gain momentum and change direction without consuming significant amounts of onboard propellant, which is essential for the long journey to Jupiter.

This flyby places the spacecraft on a trajectory for another Earth encounter in 2029, eventually leading to its arrival at Jupiter in 2031. The mission relies on these calculated orbital mechanics to reach the outer solar system efficiently.