With the final weather check given the go-ahead \u2013 meaning no risk of high winds or the lightning that delayed yesterday\u2019s launch \u2013 and the irreversible synchronised launch sequence switched on, the Ariane 5 rocket carrying JUICE lifted off at 1:14pm BST on an eight-year mission towards Jupiter.<\/p>\n
A \u201cperfect launch\u201d<\/h3>\n ![\"""\"]( "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div> The JUICE launch in Kourou, French Guiana \u00a9 Ariane Space<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\nESA used gravity<\/a> to \u2018slingshot\u2019 JUICE into its mission trajectory, and despite a tense period as we awaited communication from the craft, JUICE has successfully transmitted its first radio signal to a satellite dish in Western Australia.<\/p>\nOtherwise, \u201cit was a perfect launch\u201d said St\u00e9phane Isra\u00ebl, CEO of Arianespace.<\/p>\n
So what happened next?<\/p>\n What happened during JUICE launch:\u00a0<\/h2>\n- 1:14pm BST<\/strong> After launching on the Ariane 5 rocket \u2013 the same type of rocket that launched the James Webb Space Telescope<\/a> \u2013 JUICE successfully set off on its eastern trajectory. Those at the ESA satellite-launching system in Kourou, French Guiana, were able to feel the impact of lift-off.<\/li>\n
- 1:16pm <\/strong>Booster safely separated from the satellite, providing 90 per cent of the flight\u2019s thrust.<\/li>\n
- 1:17pm<\/b>\u00a0The payload fairing, which was used to protect the satellite from friction in the Earth\u2019s atmosphere, was successfully separated. The launcher is set to \u2018barbecue mode\u2019 \u2013 slowly rotating the spacecraft to provide equal exposure to sunlight and avoid overheating.<\/li>\n
- 1:26pm<\/strong> Separation of main stage.<\/li>\n
- 1:26pm<\/strong> Ignition of upper stage: a vital part of the launch, given the difficulties of ignition in space.<\/li>\n
- 1:27pm<\/strong> JUICE lost signal from the Natal tower off the coast of Brazil.<\/li>\n
- 1:27pm<\/strong> No signal between the two towers for 63 seconds.<\/li>\n
- 1:28pm<\/strong> Confirmation of signal from Ascension Island. \u201cVery smooth flight\u201d as it crossed the South Atlantic ocean towards continent of Africa.<\/li>\n
- 1:37pm<\/strong> JUICE reaches altitude of 580km.<\/li>\n
- 1:42pm<\/strong> In Earth\u2019s orbit, JUICE safely separates from the\u00a0 mothership on the correct trajectory. Applause in ESA as launch is considered a success.<\/li>\n
- 2:04pm<\/strong> Acquisition of signal from JUICE detected by Western Australian satellite dish after tense delay.<\/li>\n
- 2:33pm<\/strong> Successful deployment of solar wings. \u201cWe are going to Jupiter. Get ready for it\u201d is heard in the ESA control room.<\/li>\n<\/ul>
<\/p><\/div> <\/section>
JUICE will explore Jupiter and three of its icy moons \u2013 Ganymede, Callisto and Europa \u2013 for signs of life in their deep reservoirs. But this life is unlikely to photosynthesise<\/a> given Jupiter\u2019s distance from the Sun<\/a>.<\/p>\n\u201cESA, with its international partners, is on its way to Jupiter,\u201d says ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher. \u201cJUICE\u2019s spectacular launch carries with it the vision and ambition of those who conceived the mission decades ago, the skill and passion of everyone who has built this incredible machine, the drive of our flight operations team, and the curiosity of the global science community. Together, we will keep pushing the boundaries of science and exploration in order to answer humankind\u2019s biggest questions.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jupiter as imaged by the James Webb Space Telescope<\/h3>\n ![\"""\"]( "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div> Jupiter as imaged by the James Webb Space Telescope \u00a9 NASA, ESA, CSA, Jupiter ERS Team; image processing by Ricardo Hueso (UPV\/EHU) and Judy Schmidt.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\nThe satellite will have to combat Jupiter\u2019s large gravitational pull, radiation belt, harsh temperatures, and the incredibly far journey through deep space as part of its mission. It was vital that JUICE was kept incredibly clean ahead of the launch so that on return ESA will be able to determine whether any biological matter present came from Jupiter.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cThe treasure trove of data that ESA Juice will provide will enable the science community worldwide to dig in and uncover the mysteries of the jovian system, explore the nature and habitability of oceans on other worlds and answer questions yet unasked by future generations of scientists,\u201d says Carole Mundell, ESA\u2019s Director of Science.<\/p>\n
Paving the way to future exploration<\/h3>\n ![\"""\"]( "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div> Ariane 5 VA 260 with the Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer, JUICE, ready for launch on the ELA-3 launch pad at Europe\u2019s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana on 12 April 2023 \u00a9 ESA<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\nBefore Jupiter, NASA\u2019s Artemis 2 mission<\/a> will send four humans to orbit moon, including the first woman and first person of colour on a lunar mission<\/a>, in late 2024. After this, NASA aims to establish Lunar Gateway<\/a> \u2013 a permanent Moon-orbiting space station. The Artemis programme will pave the way towards ambitions to send the first humans to Mars<\/a>.<\/p>\n Timeline of JUICE mission:\u00a0<\/h2>\n- April 2023<\/strong> Launch of JUICE satellite<\/li>\n
- August 2024<\/strong> Lunar-Earth flyby<\/li>\n
- August 2025<\/b> Venus flyby<\/li>\n
- September 2026<\/strong> Earth flyby 1<\/li>\n
- January 2029<\/strong> Earth flyby 2<\/li>\n
- July 2031<\/strong>\u00a0Arrival at Jupiter<\/li>\n
- December 2034-September 2035<\/strong> Ganymede orbit<\/li>\n<\/ul>
<\/p><\/div> <\/section>
The team behind JUICE<\/h3>\n ![\"""\"]( "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div> At ESA\u2019s mission control, before the launch comes the pre-launch briefing \u2013 and the all-important group photo. This is the team that will fly JUICE to Jupiter with four planetary flybys of Earth and Venus, then switching orbit from Jupiter to its largest moon, Ganymede, followed by a tour of the icy, complex Jovian system comprising a whopping 35 lunar flybys \u00a9 ESA<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\nWe are on the way to #Jupiter<\/a> and its ocean worlds! \ud83e\udd29
![\"""\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2023\/04\/Launch-wide-angle001-77de09e.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413"\" "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>ESA used gravity<\/a> to \u2018slingshot\u2019 JUICE into its mission trajectory, and despite a tense period as we awaited communication from the craft, JUICE has successfully transmitted its first radio signal to a satellite dish in Western Australia.<\/p>\n Otherwise, \u201cit was a perfect launch\u201d said St\u00e9phane Isra\u00ebl, CEO of Arianespace.<\/p>\n So what happened next?<\/p>\n <\/p><\/div> <\/section> JUICE will explore Jupiter and three of its icy moons \u2013 Ganymede, Callisto and Europa \u2013 for signs of life in their deep reservoirs. But this life is unlikely to photosynthesise<\/a> given Jupiter\u2019s distance from the Sun<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cESA, with its international partners, is on its way to Jupiter,\u201d says ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher. \u201cJUICE\u2019s spectacular launch carries with it the vision and ambition of those who conceived the mission decades ago, the skill and passion of everyone who has built this incredible machine, the drive of our flight operations team, and the curiosity of the global science community. Together, we will keep pushing the boundaries of science and exploration in order to answer humankind\u2019s biggest questions.\u201d<\/p>\n The satellite will have to combat Jupiter\u2019s large gravitational pull, radiation belt, harsh temperatures, and the incredibly far journey through deep space as part of its mission. It was vital that JUICE was kept incredibly clean ahead of the launch so that on return ESA will be able to determine whether any biological matter present came from Jupiter.<\/p>\n \u201cThe treasure trove of data that ESA Juice will provide will enable the science community worldwide to dig in and uncover the mysteries of the jovian system, explore the nature and habitability of oceans on other worlds and answer questions yet unasked by future generations of scientists,\u201d says Carole Mundell, ESA\u2019s Director of Science.<\/p>\n Before Jupiter, NASA\u2019s Artemis 2 mission<\/a> will send four humans to orbit moon, including the first woman and first person of colour on a lunar mission<\/a>, in late 2024. After this, NASA aims to establish Lunar Gateway<\/a> \u2013 a permanent Moon-orbiting space station. The Artemis programme will pave the way towards ambitions to send the first humans to Mars<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p><\/div> <\/section> We are on the way to #Jupiter<\/a> and its ocean worlds! \ud83e\udd29What happened during JUICE launch:\u00a0<\/h2>\n
Jupiter as imaged by the James Webb Space Telescope<\/h3>\n
![\"""\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2023\/04\/JWST2022-07-27Jupiter2color-c335922.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413"\" "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>Paving the way to future exploration<\/h3>\n
![\"""\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2023\/04\/Juice-Launchpad-1-7ef0b98.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413"\" "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>Timeline of JUICE mission:\u00a0<\/h2>\n
The team behind JUICE<\/h3>\n
![\"""\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2023\/04\/MissioncontrolGOforJuicelaunch-febee21.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C346"\" "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
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