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4w ago

JUICE to Return for Sept. 28 Earth Flyby to Redirect Path to Jupiter

The gravity assist reshapes JUICE’s path to Jupiter, gives teams a chance to run instrument checkouts, lets engineers confirm the new trajectory before the planned 2031 arrival.

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Illustration of ESA’s Juice spacecraft flying past Earth, with its curved trajectory traced across the frame

Overview

  • ESA scheduled the close Earth flyby for Monday, Sept. 28, 2026, as a planned gravity-assist to change JUICE’s speed and direction without using extra fuel.
  • Mission controllers executed a targeted preparatory maneuver about four weeks before the encounter to place JUICE on the precise approach needed for the boost.
  • Teams will use the pass to point JUICE’s science instruments at Earth and the Moon to verify sensors and calibrate measurements before the Jupiter science phase.
  • Engineers will analyze post-flyby telemetry to confirm the achieved trajectory adjustment and resume the cruise to the Jupiter system for a 2031 arrival.
  • JUICE’s sequence of gravity assists reflects long-term mission planning to reach Ganymede, Callisto and Europa and to enable study of their composition, magnetic environments and possible subsurface oceans.