ESA launched the Juice probe to Jupiter - it will look for life on the moons of the planet

Miscellaneous / by admin / April 14, 2023

The satellites of the gas giant should have a lot of liquid water.

European Space Agency (ESA) launched to Jupiter the Juice probe. The historic mission to the moons of this planet was supposed to start on Thursday, April 13, but it was postponed for 24 hours due to adverse weather conditions.

The six-ton automatic interplanetary station will reach its goal in 8 years - by July 2031. Its main target will be the three icy moons of the gas giant - Ganymede, Europa and Callisto. It is believed that they have subglacial warm oceans with liquid water and minerals dissolved in it. It is an ideal environment for the origin of biological life.

Visualization of Juice on its way to Jupiter. Image: ESA

As for Europe specifically, the depth of its ocean can reach 161 kilometers, and the water in it can be twice as much as on Earth. And she, apparently, throws water vapor into space in the form of plumes and geysers.

Rendering of Juice with Europe in the background. Image: ESA

Ganymede also has its own unusual features - this satellite is larger than Mercury and is the only moon in the solar system that generates its own magnetic field.

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The probe will also study Jupiter's atmosphere, its system's magnetic environment, the nature of the rings, and other moons of the planet, including the volcanically active Io.

The Europa Clipper probe is also planned to be launched to Jupiter in 2024. It will arrive before Juice, as it will fly on a more direct route in April 2030.