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\t\t\t\t\t\t18\/07\/2024<\/span> Next month, ESA\u2019s Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (Juice) will carry out the first combined lunar-Earth flyby. Preparations are under way at ESA mission control for this highly precise manoeuvre, which will harness the gravitational forces of the Moon and Earth\u00a0in quick succession to line Juice up for the next stage of its journey to Jupiter.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Juice is Europe\u2019s first mission to the Jupiter system. To reach its distant target, the spacecraft will carry out a series of manoeuvres known as gravity assists, flybys, swingbys or slingshots.<\/p>\n These manoeuvres change a spacecraft\u2019s speed and trajectory using the gravity of a large object such as a planet or a moon. They conserve fuel and allow the spacecraft to be packed with as many scientific instruments as possible for the exploration of distant worlds.<\/p>\n Juice\u2019s first gravity assist is particularly complex as it is actually two flybys back-to-back. The lunar-Earth flyby will see Juice pass just 700 km from the Moon\u2019s surface at 23:16 CEST on 19 August and 6807 km from Earth\u2019s surface almost exactly 24 hours later at 23:57 CEST on 20 August.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Using the gravity of the Moon to slightly bend Juice\u2019s trajectory first will improve the effectiveness of the much larger gravity assist at Earth. However, the dual flyby requires extraordinarily precise navigation and timing, as even minor deviations could send Juice in the wrong direction.<\/p>\n \u201cFor a typical gravity assist, spacecraft operations have to be highly precise,\u201d says Angela Dietz, Juice Spacecraft Operations Engineer. \u201cFor a double flyby, they must be pinpoint.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Teams from all across ESA\u2019s ESOC operations centre have been called to action for Juice\u2019s lunar-Earth flyby.<\/p>\n The Juice team\u00a0are currently performing a series of trajectory correction manoeuvres to fine-tune the spacecraft\u2019s path as it approaches the Earth-Moon system and ensure it arrives at exactly the correct angle and speed.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n During the critical phase, the deep space antennas in ESA\u2019s Estrack network will provide a near-constant communication link with Juice.<\/p>\n The continuous supply of real-time telemetry data will enable the flight control and flight dynamics\u00a0teams to closely monitor Juice\u2019s position, speed and trajectory, and rapidly respond to any anomalies or deviations.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n During the Earth flyby, Juice will pass within the altitude of satellites in geostationary and medium-Earth orbits. ESA\u2019s Space Debris Office\u00a0will scan Juice\u2019s trajectory to ensure a safe passage free from other satellites or space debris.<\/p>\n After the lunar-Earth flyby, as Juice bids farewell to its home planet for the second time, the teams will evaluate its new trajectory and carry out any further minor correction manoeuvres as needed.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n \u201cA lunar-Earth flyby has never been attempted before,\u201d says Angela Dietz. \u201cThere are risks, but all of Juice\u2019s onboard systems have been rigorously tested, and we are well prepared.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n \u201cDue to the low altitudes, large velocity changes and strict navigation requirements involved, the flight control team needs to be ready to react at a moment\u2019s notice.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThis week, we are running a training campaign to develop and rehearse the recovery procedures that we will use to get the spacecraft back on track as quickly as possible if we encounter any anomalies.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n During the recent \u2018dry run\u2019 of the payload operations\u00a0that will take place during the double flyby, the flight control team commanded Juice to operate its various cameras and scientific instruments exactly as it will do during the real flybys to ensure that all systems behave as expected.<\/p>\n Juice\u2019s instruments are designed to study a planet and its moons, so the lunar-Earth flyby offers a rare opportunity to test and calibrate them on similar objects and prepare them for their scientific activities at Jupiter.<\/p>\n In more ways than one, the successful execution of the first lunar-Earth flyby will bring Juice one step closer to unveiling the mysteries of Jupiter and its icy moons.<\/p>\n Follow our Rocket Science blog\u00a0<\/i>and @ESA_Juice and @esaoperations on X for the latest updates on Juice\u2019s lunar-Earth flyby.<\/i><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t2<\/span> likes<\/small><\/span><\/p>\n<\/header>\nSqueezing the most out of Juice\u2019s return to Earth <\/h2>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nMission control ready for action<\/h2>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nPreparing for a spaceflight first<\/h2>\n
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