ESA's JUICE mission: A billion-dollar journey to Jupiter's icy moons
Europe is reaching for Jupiter. The European Space Agency's JUICE spacecraft — short for Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer — is now embarking on its epic journey to the largest planet in our solar system. With a cost of $1.8 billion, JUICE is one of the most ambitious missions in ESA's history.
A historic route through the solar system
Launched in April 2023, JUICE is taking a scenic journey through space. On its way to Jupiter, the probe will make a gravity-assisted flyby of Venus, followed by several Earth-bound flybys, using the planet’s gravity to plunge deeper into space. This careful choreography will conserve fuel and set JUICE on course for its arrival in the Jovian system in July 2031.
Why Jupiter’s Icy Moons Matter
After reaching Jupiter, JUICE will focus on the planet’s three largest icy moons—Europa, Callisto, and Ganymede. These frozen worlds are more than just cosmic curiosities. Scientists believe that beneath their icy crusts lie vast subsurface oceans that could potentially support microbial life.
Europa: Known for its cracked icy surface and possible salty ocean.
Ganymede: The largest moon in the solar system with its own magnetic field.
Callisto: A Cratered Relic That Holds Key to the Solar System’s Past
A Mission of Discovery
During its planned 12-year mission, JUICE will orbit Ganymede, mapping its surface, studying its magnetic field, and searching for signs of habitability. Its instruments will study everything from its atmosphere and magnetosphere to the chemistry of its ices and rocks.
A Bold Step for Europe in Space Exploration
As NASA prepares its own Europa Clipper mission, the European Space Agency’s (ESA) JUICE marks Europa’s first purpose-built journey to another planetary system. Together, the missions could provide the most detailed understanding yet of where life might exist beyond Earth.
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