JUICE: Jupiter Icy Moon Explorer of European Space Agency

WHY IN NEWS?

• The Jupiter Icy Moon Explorer of the European Space Agency recently entered into a critical sequence of tests.

About:

• It is called JUICE.
• It is an interplanetary spacecraft developed by European Space Agency. It is under its development phase.
• The main contractor of the mission is Airbus Defence and Space.
• The JUICE Mission will study three Galilean Moon of Jupiter. They are Europa, Ganymede and Callisto.
• All these three moons have significant amount of water beneath their surfaces.
• The spacecraft is to be launched in June 2022.
• It will reach Jupiter in October 2029.
• It will reach Jupiter after five gravity assists. Gravity Assists is the use of the gravity of other planet or astronomical object to increase speed of a spacecraft or to alter its path. This is done to save the propellant and reduce expenses.

Objectives:

• Detailed investigation of Ganymede and evaluate its potential to support life.
• Characterisation of ocean layers
• Detection of putative subsurface water reservoirs
• Geological and Topographical compositional mapping of the surface
• Study of physical properties of the icy crusts
• Investigation of Ganymede’s atmosphere. Study about its magnetic field