It worked on the second try. The European space probe is on its way to the solar system and also has OeAW technology on board.
The JUICE mission has begun its journey to the Jovian system. After yesterday’s original launch had to be postponed due to bad weather, today was the day: an Ariane 5 launch vehicle launched the 6.1-tonne research satellite from the Kourou spaceport in French Guiana into the solar system at 2:14 pm. In the afternoon, ESA was also able to report the successful deployment of the solar panels.
The Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer mission, or JUICE for short, will be on the move for eight years before reaching the Jovian system in July 2031. The aim of the European Space Agency (ESA) mission is to study Jupiter’s three icy moons – Callisto , Europa and Ganymede – and learn more about the size and composition of their ice-covered oceans.
Austrian research examines the oceans of icy moons
Also on board the spacecraft are three contributions from the Graz Space Research Institute of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAW): Together with the Institute of Experimental Physics at the Graz University of Technology, the OeAW researchers have developed a new quantum interference magnetometer. In addition, the OeAW carried out the calibration of radio wave reception antennas and is involved with scientific expertise in the particle spectrometer.
“The European mission to the fascinating icy moons of Jupiter is spectacular, after all all the conditions for life could have been created there. Domestic basic research makes significant contributions to the success of this future project. When JUICE arrives at Jupiter in 2031, measurements with instruments from Austria will show what oceans of water look like under the icy moons,” says Heinz Faßmann, President of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAW), who announced the launch of the ESA rocket in live stream followed.
Christiane Helling, director of the OeAW Space Research Institute, adds: “Since the discovery of the first extrasolar planet, it has become clear that studying the planets in our solar system is key to understanding both the planetary diversity in our Milky Way and Earth as foundation of our life. By studying the Jovian system, we also hope to gain new insights into the impressively dynamic atmosphere of Jupiter itself.”
JUICE on its way to the Jupiter system. © ESA – M. Pédoussaut
Heinz Faßmann, President of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAW), and Christiane Helling, Director of the Space Research Institute of the ÖAW, at the launch event of the JUICE mission on April 13, 2023 in Graz. © ÖAW/Daniel Hinterramskogler