ASI; ESA; NASA; radioscience; planetary exploration; geophysics; geodesy; gravity; orbital analysis; JUICE; Jupiter; Jupiter's moons
JUICE (Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer) is an ESA L-class mission designed for a careful Jupiter system tour. The launch is currently planned for 2022 and the arrival at Jupiter is expected around 2030. The mission will spend at least three years making accurate scientific observations of Jupiter and three of its largest moons namely Ganymede, Callisto and Europa. To do so, JUICE will carry several state-of-the-art instruments, including the radio science experiment 3GM (Gravity & Geophysics of Jupiter and Galilean Moons).
The 3GM radio science experiment will regroup a Ka transponder and an ultra stable oscillator. This package will provide unique opportunities in the context of planetary and atmospheric Physics. Indeed, it will be used to probe the neutral atmosphere and ionosphere of Jupiter and its Moons, and to study their gravity fields as well. This will provide important information on the internal structures of the giant gaseous planet and the extent of internal oceans on the icy Moons.
Juice contract responsible