Through the gravity assist from the double flyby, the spacecraft can take a shortcut to Jupiter via Venus, saving precious fuel and time.
The European Space Agency ’s Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer is about to embark on a daring mission that will be nothing short of a cosmic rollercoaster.
ESA describes it as “the first-ever double gravity assist maneuver.” Through this gravity assist, the spacecraft can take a shortcut to Jupiter via Venus, saving precious fuel and time. On August 19 evening hours, Juice will skim past the Moon, where it will undergo a speed reduction. This will be followed by anflyby roughly 25 hours later, resulting in a further speed drop. The flight controllers will next direct the spacecraft toward Venus.
This trajectory adjustment will position Juice for a close encounter with Venus in August 2025. Juice will then receive a series of speed boosters, allowing the probe to slingshot past Venus and the Earth. ESA describes it as “the space exploration equivalent of drinking three back-to-back espressos.” This will allow the spacecraft to eventually approach Jupiter.While it seems paradoxical to decelerate before a long trip to Jupiter, this maneuver actually maximizes fuel efficiency.
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