How soon? In less than three weeks, NASA’s Juno mission will fire its engine and enter orbit around Jupiter on July 4.
By the time Juno reaches Jupiter, the long-anticipated mission will have traveled to its destination for around five years. Juno is designed to help scientists understand Jupiter’s origin and evolution.
Artist’s rendering of Juno at Jupiter. Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech
What’s Juno carrying to this distant planet? Juno has instruments that will enable it to study Jupiter’s atmosphere, deep structure and magnetic field. It will photograph the atmosphere and auroras and will tell us about the gases that are present. Additionally, Juno will take incredible close up-images.
Juno will help us learn about the conditions of the early solar system when Jupiter was forming. It will also increase our understanding of far-off planetary systems that are now being discovered.
The spacecraft will be the first solar-powered craft to function so far away from the sun. However, its solar panels are very large compared to other spacecraft, enabling it to generate enough power to function at a great distance from the sun.
Juno will be the first spacecraft to enter into a polar orbit around Jupiter. This kind of orbit is ideal for a planet’s mapping and monitoring. Juno will pass over different sections of Jupiter during each of its 33 planned orbits and will have eventually covered the entire planet.
Juno is part of NASA’s New Frontiers Program and will help us learn about the formation of giant planets and our solar system. Learn more about the mission at NASA.gov.