ESA's Jupiter-bound spacecraft changed direction by 20 degrees and gained 3.5 km/s in speed using Earth’s

Live updates

1. 58m ago

   ESA Juice Spacecraft Gains Speed and Redirects During Earth Flyby

   The European Space Agency's Juice spacecraft completed its penultimate gravity assist on September 28, 2026, during a flyby of Earth. The maneuver increased the spacecraft's speed by 3.5 km/s and shifted its direction by 20 degrees. This flyby allowed the mission to test eclipse survival strategies and rehearse operations required for its eventual arrival at Jupiter. The spacecraft is now redirecting toward the Jovian system as part of its eight-year journey to study icy moons.

   Why it matters

   Juice is the first non-US interplanetary spacecraft headed to the outer Solar System. It aims to orbit Ganymede, Callisto, and Europa to investigate liquid water beneath their frozen surfaces. The mission is scheduled to reach Jupiter in July 2031.

   What is confirmed

   • The Juice spacecraft completed its penultimate Earth gravity assist on September 28, 2026.
   • The Earth flyby increased the spacecraft's speed by 3.5 km/s.
   • The maneuver changed the spacecraft's direction by 20 degrees.
   • Juice is designed to study Jupiter's icy moons Ganymede, Callisto, and Europa.
   • The spacecraft is expected to reach Jupiter in July 2031.
   • Juice will enter orbit around Ganymede in December 2034.
   • The mission was launched from the Guiana Space Centre on April 14, 2023.

   What to watch next

   • The final gravity assist before Jupiter arrival
   • Confirmation of the spacecraft's arrival in July 2031
   • Results from the eclipse survival strategy tests
   Sources used for this update (14)

   1. en.wikipedia.org — Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer - Wikipedia
   2. sci.esa.int — ESA Science & Technology - ESA's fleet of Solar System explorers
   3. The Times of India — ESA's Jupiter-bound spacecraft changed direction by 20 degrees and gained 3.5 km/s in speed using Earth’s
   4. starlust.org — Watch: ESA’s Jupiter-bound JUICE spacecraft snapped cruising past Earth during latest flyby
   5. SciTechDaily — ESA’s Juice Just Skimmed Earth’s Atmosphere on Its Way to Jupiter
   6. www.factfest.net — How Juice gained speed from Earth's gravity assist
   7. www.sciencedaily.com — ESA News -- ScienceDaily
   8. www.esa.int — ESA - Science & Exploration
   9. www.esa.int — European Space Agency
   10. www.sciencedaily.com — The search for life on Jupiter's icy moon Europa just got more complicated
   11. www.esa.int — ESA - Earth today, Jupiter tomorrow: An insight into Juice’s ...
   12. scienceofficial.org — ESA's Juice Completes Earth Flyby, Tests Eclipse Operations ...
   confidence 95%