Juice Slingshots Past Earth, Gaining Speed for Jupiter Mission
ESA's Juice spacecraft used Earth's gravity to boost its speed by 3.5 km/s and alter its course by 20 degrees on September 28, 2026. This maneuver, which required minimal fuel, is a critical step in its journey to study Jupiter's icy moons. The flyby also allowed scientists to test instruments and capture images of Earth.
Key points
- Juice passed 8,640 km above the Indian Ocean on September 28, 2026, using Earth's gravity to change its trajectory and speed.
- The maneuver increased Juice's velocity by 3.5 km/s and deflected its path by 20 degrees without a major engine burn.
- Mission controllers used only one of six planned course corrections, demonstrating precise navigation and fuel efficiency.
- The flyby provided an opportunity to test scientific instruments and capture images of Earth, Africa, and the Moon.
- Juice will make a final Earth flyby in January 2029 before arriving at Jupiter in 2031.
Background
Juice launched in April 2023 and has already used gravity assists at the Moon and Venus. The September 2026 Earth flyby is the third major gravity assist of the mission, following a lunar-Earth flyby in August 2024 and a Venus flyby in August 2025. These maneuvers are essential for conserving fuel for critical operations at Jupiter, including entering orbit around the planet in 2031 and its moon Ganymede in 2034.
How outlets are covering it
The Times of India emphasizes the precision of the navigation, noting that only one of six planned course corrections was needed. Scientific American highlights the images captured during the flyby and the testing of scientific instruments. ScienceDaily focuses on the efficiency of the maneuver and the importance of preserving fuel for future operations at Jupiter. All sources agree on the significance of the gravity assist for Juice's journey to Jupiter.
Why it matters
The successful gravity assist demonstrates the effectiveness of using planetary gravity to alter spacecraft trajectories, conserving fuel for critical operations. This maneuver is essential for Juice's mission to study Jupiter's icy moons, which may hold clues to life beyond Earth. The efficiency of the maneuver also highlights the precision of modern space navigation.
What to watch
Juice will make a final Earth flyby in January 2029, which will place it on the optimum path to intercept Jupiter in July 2031. The spacecraft is expected to enter orbit around Jupiter that year and then move into orbit around Ganymede in 2034. Scientists expect to release images and data from the flyby in the coming weeks.
- NASA's Jupiter-bound spacecraft changed direction by 20 degrees and gained 3.5 km/s in speed using Earth’ The Times of India
- See the cool photos this Jupiter-bound spacecraft took while swinging by Earth Scientific American
- ESA’s Juice just used Earth as a slingshot to Jupiter ScienceDaily
- Juice Earth flyby 2026 The Planetary Society
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