Mission to find life on Jupiter’s icy moons 

Europe’s €1.6 billion voyage into deep space will explore the frozen oceans of Ganymede, Europa and Callisto to hunt for signs of extraterrestrial life

Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE)
Ten instruments include high-resolution cameras, spectrometer, laser altimeter and ice- penetrating
radar

Mission: Six-tonne craft will make three fly-bys of Earth and one of Venus on 6.6bn-km journey lasting more than eight years

Apr 2023: Launch
Jul 2031: Reaches Jovian system
Dec 2034: Ganymede orbit insertion
Late 2035: Impact on Ganymede

Mars 
Venus

GALILEAN MOONS: Four largest of Jupiter’s 95 moons, discovered by Galileo in 1610

Io 3,640km diameter
Europa 3,120km
Ganymede 5,262km 
Callisto 4,820km
Earth’s moon 3,475km



Suspected structure
Oxygen atmosphere
Ice crust
Liquid ocean
Rocky mantle
Iron core

GANYMEDE
Largest moon in solar system, and only moon with own magnetic field

After series of visits to Callisto and Europa, JUICE will enter into permanent orbit around Ganymede in 2034 – first spacecraft to orbit any moon other than our own

       
Pictures: ESA/ATG medialab, NASA/JPL/DLR, NASA/GSFC/Arizona State Uni.
Sources: ESA, NASA, Airbus
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