. 24/7 Space News .
OUTER PLANETS
Juno Mission Prepares for December 11 Jupiter Flyby
by Staff Writers
Pasadena CA (JPL) Dec 13, 2016


This artist's rendering shows NASA's Juno spacecraft making one of its close passes over Jupiter. Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

On Sunday, December 11, at 9:04 a.m. PST (12:04 p.m. EST, 17:04 UTC) NASA's Juno spacecraft will make its third science flyby of Jupiter.

At the time of closest approach (called perijove), Juno will be about 2,580 miles (4,150 kilometers) above the gas giant's roiling cloud tops and traveling at a speed of about 129,000 mph (57.8 kilometers per second) relative to the planet. Seven of Juno's eight science instruments will be energized and collecting data during the flyby.

"This will be the first time we are planning to operate the full Juno capability to investigate Jupiter's interior structure via its gravity field," said Scott Bolton, principal investigator of Juno from the Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio.

"We are looking forward to what Jupiter's gravity may reveal about the gas giant's past and its future."

Mission managers have decided not to collect data with the Jovian Infrared Auroral Mapper (JIRAM) instrument during the December flyby, to allow the team to complete an update to the spacecraft software that processes JIRAM's science data. A software patch allowing JIRAM's operation is expected to be available prior to the next perijove pass (PJ4) on Feb. 2, 2017.

The spacecraft team continues to weigh its options regarding modifications of Juno's orbital period - how long it takes for the spacecraft to complete one orbit around Jupiter.

At present, Juno's orbital period is 53.4 days. There had been plans to perform a period adjustment maneuver with the spacecraft's main engine on Oct. 19 to reduce the orbital period to 14 days.

The team made the decision to forgo the maneuver in order to further study the performance of a set of valves that are part of the spacecraft's fuel pressurization system. The period reduction maneuver was the final scheduled burn of Juno's main engine.

"We have a healthy spacecraft that is performing its mission admirably," said Rick Nybakken, project manager for Juno from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California.

"What we do not want to do is add any unnecessary risk, so we are moving forward carefully."

In collaboration with NASA and the Juno team, Apple will release an interactive guide to the mission (an iBook) on Dec. 11.

The Juno spacecraft launched on Aug. 5, 2011, from Cape Canaveral, Florida, and arrived at Jupiter on July 4, 2016. During its mission of exploration, Juno soars low over the planet's cloud tops - as close as about 2,600 miles (4,100 kilometers).

During these flybys, Juno will probe beneath the obscuring cloud cover of Jupiter and study its auroras to learn more about the planet's origins, structure, atmosphere and magnetosphere.

Juno's name comes from Roman mythology. The mythical god Jupiter drew a veil of clouds around himself to hide his mischief, and his wife - the goddess Juno - was able to peer through the clouds and reveal Jupiter's true nature.


Comment on this article using your Disqus, Facebook, Google or Twitter login.


Thanks for being here;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once


credit card or paypal
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5 Billed Monthly


paypal only


.


Related Links
Juno at NASA
The million outer planets of a star called Sol






Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle

Previous Report
JOVIAN DREAMS
Juno Mission Exits Safe Mode, Performs Trim Maneuver
Pasadena CA (JPL) Oct 28, 2016
NASA's Juno spacecraft at Jupiter has left safe mode and has successfully completed a minor burn of its thruster engines in preparation for its next close flyby of Jupiter. Mission controllers commanded Juno to exit safe mode Monday, Oct. 24, with confirmation of safe mode exit received on the ground at 10:05 a.m. PDT (1:05 p.m. EDT). The spacecraft entered safe mode on Oct. 18 when a soft ... read more


JOVIAN DREAMS
Early US astronauts faced uncertainty, danger and death

NASA Tech - it's all around us

NASA Communications Network to Double Space Station Data Rates

NASA's Exo-Brake 'Parachute' to Enable Safe Return for Small Spacecraft

JOVIAN DREAMS
Technical glitch postpones NASA satellite launch

After glitch, NASA satellite launch set for Wednesday

NASA Engineers Test Combustion Chamber to Advance 3-D Printed Rocket Engine Design

ULA launches eighth Wideband Global SATCOM satellite

JOVIAN DREAMS
Mars Rock-Ingredient Stew Seen as Plus for Habitability

ExoMars orbiter images Phobos

Mars One puts back planned colonisation of Red Planet

Opportunity team plot path forward to the 'Gully'

JOVIAN DREAMS
Chinese missile giant seeks 20% of a satellite market

China-made satellites in high demand

Space exploration plans unveiled

China launches 4th data relay satellite

JOVIAN DREAMS
Air New Zealand signs contract for Inmarsat's GX Aviation

UAE launches national space policy

European ministers ready ESA for a United Space in Europe in the era of Space 4.0

Nordic entrepreneurial spirit boosted by space

JOVIAN DREAMS
Japan launches 'space junk' collector

Teaching an old satellite new tricks

Orbital ATK to develop critical technology for in-orbit assembly

Decoding cement's shape promises greener concrete

JOVIAN DREAMS
Who needs a body? Not these larvae, which are basically swimming heads

Scientists examine bacterium found 1,000 feet underground

Rings around young star suggest planet formation in progress

ALMA finds compelling evidence for pair of infant planets around young star

JOVIAN DREAMS
Juno Mission Prepares for December 11 Jupiter Flyby

Research Offers Clues About the Timing of Jupiter's Formation

New Perspective on How Pluto's "Icy Heart" Came to Be

New analysis adds to support for a subsurface ocean on Pluto









The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.