An ambitious space project is underway to help answer a fundamental question about our universe: Does life exist elsewhere in the solar system?
On April 14, the Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) successfully launched, with its sights set on the biggest planet in our orbit.
After 13 years in the making, the craft left from the European Space Agency spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.
(Illustration Credit: Shutterstock/ joshimerbin)
Shutterstock/ joshimerbin
The mission is scheduled for arrival in the Jovian system (that is, the region of our outer planets) in mid-2031. But the craft will carry out a number of maneuvers en route to Jupiter and its moons.
Notably, it will be the first craft to perform a lunar-Earth gravity assist, taking advantage of the moon's gravity to help slingshot it to its destination, saving a significant amount of fuel on its journey.
“JUICE will accomplish a number of solar system-exploration ...
