ESA's Juice spacecraft uses Earth gravity assist on route to Jupiter

· Science

ESA's Juice spacecraft flew past Earth on September 28, using the planet's gravity to reshape its trajectory toward Jupiter without burning much fuel. The flyby changed its direction by 20 degrees and increased its speed by 3.5 km/s, while also letting scientists test its instruments on Earth.

Why it matters：Gravity assists are a cornerstone of deep-space mission planning, and the data from this flyby will shape how Juice performs when it reaches Jupiter, informing future interplanetary mission design.

Key points

  • The flyby changed the spacecraft's direction by 20 degrees.
  • Its speed increased by 3.5 km/s without significant fuel use.
  • Scientists used the pass to calibrate instruments on a known target.

Sources (original reporting)

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