The European Space Agency’s Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) spacecraft successfully completed a crucial flyby of Venus on August 31. This maneuver is part of JUICE’s eight-year journey to the Jupiter system, where it will study the gas giant and three of its largest moons: Ganymede, Callisto, and Europa. The flyby occurred just days after JUICE experienced a communication glitch that caused a nearly full-day blackout.
On July 16, a routine communication check failed to establish a connection with the spacecraft via a deep space antenna in Cebreros, Spain. Mission operators worked tirelessly to troubleshoot the issue, which they narrowed down to either a misalignment of the medium-gain antenna or an amplifier problem within the comms system. After 20 hours and six “blind” transmissions, the team successfully realigned JUICE’s medium-gain antenna, reestablishing communications.
The malfunction was traced to a glitch in JUICE’s timing software, affecting the probe’s communications amplifier. A software fix was issued to prevent future issues, allowing preparations for the Venus flyby to proceed on schedule.
Juice completes Venus flyby successfully
During the flyby, JUICE made its closest approach to Venus at 1:28 a.m. EDT (0728 GMT) on Sunday. The spacecraft’s sensors were powered down during the maneuver due to heat limitations, so no photos were returned. The Venus flyby is one of several planned gravity assists that will help propel JUICE towards its ultimate destination.
The probe will make additional flybys of Earth in September 2026 and January 2029 before finally reaching Jupiter in July 2031. Once in the Jupiter system, JUICE will spend approximately 2.5 years orbiting the gas giant and completing 35 passes of its icy moons. These moons are believed to harbor oceans of liquid water beneath their icy shells, making them prime candidates for exploring potential signs of life.
JUICE aims to become the first spacecraft to orbit one of Jupiter’s moons, specifically Ganymede. The successful completion of the Venus flyby marks a significant milestone in JUICE’s journey and demonstrates the mission team’s ability to overcome unexpected challenges. As JUICE continues its voyage to the outer solar system, scientists eagerly await the groundbreaking discoveries it may uncover about Jupiter and its enigmatic moons.
