The Juice spacecraft will fly past the Moon and Earth on this date and reach Jupiter in 2032.

Jupiter IC Moons Explorer [JUICE], the European Space Agency’s spacecraft, which launched in April 2023, is set to fly past the Moon and Earth next month on August 20, 2024, and reach the giant planet Jupiter. The spacecraft has been sent to study and observe Jupiter’s three moons Ganymede, Callisto and Europa. The JUICE spacecraft is scheduled to make its closest approach to Earth at 5:57 pm ET, within 4200 miles or 6,800 kilometers.

The mission of the JUICE spacecraft

The spacecraft is currently 10 kilometers from Earth. It would use the gravity of the Earth and Moon to conserve fuel for the journey to the gas planet. This journey will continue for about 8 years. Three moons have been explored. Jupiter’s moons are thought to have a significant liquid water component beneath their icy surfaces, possibly harboring extraterrestrial life.

The JUICE spacecraft is expected to land on Jupiter in July 2031. Since the JUICE spacecraft was not built to reach Jupiter, its rocket is not capable of flying directly up to 800 kilometers, so it takes a longer route.

The Juice spaceship receives the support of cosmic bodies for gravity

The Juice spacecraft became the first spacecraft to receive both lunar and Earth support for gravity. This accelerated its journey to reach Jupiter.

The move was made by a team working at ESA’s Space Operations Center in Darmstadt, Germany. Arnaud Boutonet, head of analysis for the mission, ESA said „the only solution is to use gravity aids”.

Scientists have calculated that the speed of the juice increases by about 3.3 kilometers every second with the help of the moon’s gravity. It is 3 kilometers away without the support of the moon.

When the spacecraft is close to Earth, it will click photographs, test its instruments and make observations. According to Boutonnet, when the spacecraft takes off from the moon, Earth’s gravity can affect it, putting the juice in a dangerous position.

A team of scientists on Earth will be in charge of calculating the route the juice will take to protect it from danger. JUICE is due to receive a pass from Venus in 2025, and will fly past Earth in 2026 and 2029.

According to Boutonnet, JUICE is going to receive a gravitational boost from cosmic bodies 35 times during its interstellar discovery. ESA’s JUICE will soon make a close encounter with Earth before setting off on its journey to Jupiter.