Earth Gives Europe’s Juice Spacecraft a Boost on Its Journey to Jupiter

Europe’s Juice spacecraft has passed close to Earth in a precisely calculated manoeuvre, using the encounter to help shape its long journey towards Jupiter.

The flyby was not a homecoming. Instead, Earth provided a gravitational boost, changing the spacecraft’s trajectory as it continued towards its distant destination.

Such manoeuvres allow a spacecraft to draw on a planet’s gravity to alter its course and motion, reducing the need to rely on fuel alone during a lengthy voyage.

For Juice, the brief encounter with Earth was a step towards exploring the icy worlds around Jupiter, where secrets beneath frozen surfaces are a key focus of scientific interest.