The ESA’s JUpiter ICy moons Explorer (JUICE) mission updates and future plans

The JUpiter ICy moons Explorer (JUICE) is the first European Space Agency’s large-class mission of the Cosmic Vision 2015-2025 program. It was launched in April 2023 and is on its way to Jupiter where it will arrive in July 2031, after ca 8 years of cruise.

JUICE aims to explore the conditions that could have led to habitable environments on Jupiter’s icy moons: Europa, Callisto, and Ganymede. Hosting 10 instruments, 1 investigation and 1 radiation monitor, the spacecraft will characterize the structure and environment of the Galilean moons, the Jupiter magnetosphere and atmosphere as well as the various couplings processes at play in this complex planetary system.

Ganymede, the largest moon in the Solar System, is the mission's primary focus due to its potential as a natural laboratory for studying icy worlds and water-worlds. Its role within the Galilean satellite system, along with its unique magnetic and plasma interactions with Jupiter, further elevates its importance.

The nominal mission phase is divided in two phases: a touring part of more than 3 years with 62 equatorial and inclined orbits around Jupiter as well as 36 flybys of the Galilean moons. Late in 2034, the spacecraft will then enter in orbit around Ganymede. Its orbit will initially be elliptical for 5 months, followed by more than 4-month quasi circular orbit at a 500 km altitude and a final 30-day 200 km circular orbit phase.

This presentation will cover the mission's key science objectives, the status of the spacecraft and its new baseline trajectory, the recent Venus Gravity assist, and the upcoming plans for the cruise phase.