Europe has successfully reestablished contact with its most advanced interplanetary probe, the JUICE Jupiter probe. It is due to make its crucial flyby of Venus in a few days. Launched by ESA in April 2023, the JUICE (Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer) probe is on its way to the Jupiter system to study the giant planet and its three main moons: Ganymede, Callisto, and Europa. It is scheduled to reach Jupiter in July 2031, after four gravity-based maneuvers, the second of which will take place this Sunday, during its close approach to Venus.
The unexpected loss of communication in mid-July had caused great concern among experts. JUICE was “silent” for about 20 hours at a distance of 200 million km. Engineers assumed that the problem was due to the incorrect positioning of the antenna or a malfunction of the transmitter. After a series of attempts, the sixth signal was used to reestablish contact. This Sunday, JUICE will fly past Venus, using the planet’s gravity to continue its journey to Jupiter. The next gravity maneuver is scheduled for September 2026 around Earth, and in 2029, JUICE will gain the necessary speed to reach the Jovian system in 2031.
