Jupiter-bound Juno spacecraft. Credit: NASA
GRAIL, twin probes to the Moon. Credit: NASA
Curiosity Mars Rover. Credit: NASA/JPL
Now in prep status, a trio of NASA interplanetary missions that will be dispatched from Florida – headed for Jupiter, Earth’s Moon and Mars.
First departure in early August is the Juno spacecraft that is targeted for giant Jupiter. Following a five-year cruise to Jupiter, the probe arrives in July 2016.
Spending one year at Jupiter, Juno will orbit the planet 33 times. This interplanetary adventurer will improve our understanding of our solar system’s beginnings by revealing the origin and evolution of Jupiter.
Next up and out are dual GRAIL spacecraft. This twosome will be launched side-by-side on a single Delta II vehicle during a 26-day launch period that opens on September 8th.
The Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) mission will determine the structure of the lunar interior, from crust to core and to advance understanding of the thermal evolution of the Moon.
Also being readied for launch is the Mars rover, Curiosity. The red planet-bound Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) mission is headed for liftoff between November 25 and December 18th.
The rover’s landing spot has yet to be announced, but will arrive on Mars in August 2012.
Check out a new, cool animation that depicts this next Mars rover in action, at:
http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/videogallery/index.html?media_id=97780842
By Leonard David