The European Space Agency (ESA) launched the Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) in 2023.

About JUICE Mission

• The JUICE mission will explore Jupiter’s three large moons: Callisto, Europa, and Ganymede, which are believed to have subsurface oceans.
• The mission’s goal is to determine if these moons could potentially support life by studying their environments.
• JUICE is set to  perform a novel and risky double slingshot manoeuvre using the gravity of both the moon and the earth.

• Significance of the JUICE Mission

• • Nasa’s Galileo mission: This mission follows NASA’s Galileo mission from the 1990s but aims to delve deeper into Jupiter’s moons and their ability to harbour life.
  • Double slingshot: Successful execution of the double slingshot will demonstrate advanced orbital navigation and set JUICE on a steady course for its groundbreaking exploration of the Jovian system.

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Benefits of the Double Slingshot

• Efficient Travel to Jupiter: The double slingshot allows JUICE to reach Jupiter without needing a massive rocket or extra fuel by using gravity for propulsion.
• Precise Gravity Assistance: The alignment of the moon and earth helps JUICE use their gravity to adjust its speed and direction accurately.
• Further Gravity Boosts: After this manoeuvre, JUICE will receive additional boosts from Venus in 2025 and earth in 2026 and 2029 to continue its journey towards Jupiter.