The European Space Agency (ESA) will launch its Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer mission – or Juice for short – tomorrow, as it embarks on an eight-year journey around the largest planet in the solar system.
The spacecraft will take off from Europe’s spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, powered by the Ariane 5 rocket, which is making its penultimate launch after more than 30 years in service.
Juice will observe Jupiter and its moons like never before, and will also perform flybys of Earth and Venus on its way to the gas giant.
Here’s everything you need to know about the launch, including how to watch it live.
When is the Juice launch?
Juice was originally planned to launch at 1.15pm BST on Thursday 13 April. However, it was postponed at last minute due to bad weather. It will now take off at 12.14pm BST on Friday 14 April.
How to watch the Rocket Launch livestream
We will show a livestream of the rocket launch on this tomorrow from midday. You can watch it right here.
You can also watch the launch live online via ESA TV, or on its YouTube channel.
What is the purpose of the mission?
ESA said Juice will make detailed observations of Jupiter and its three large ocean-bearing moons – Ganymede, Callisto and Europa – with a suite of remote sensing, geophysical and in situ instruments.
“The mission will characterise these moons as both planetary objects and possible habitats, explore Jupiter’s complex environment in depth, and study the wider Jupiter system as an archetype for gas giants across the universe,” the agency said.
Juice will complete a number of Solar System firsts. It will be the first spacecraft ever to orbit a moon other than our own – Jupiter’s largest moon Ganymede. En route to Jupiter it will also perform the first ever lunar-Earth gravity assist to save propellant.
The spacecraft will reach Jupiter in July 2031 and spent three and a half years orbiting the planet and making flybys of its moons.
In December 2034 Juice will attempt to change orbits, moving from Jupiter to Ganymede. It will explore the vast reserves of water in Jupiter’s three ocean-bearing moons to see if they are habitable.
This article was updated to reflect the postponed take off date
