ESA's Juice Slingshots Past Earth to Jupiter
The spacecraft used Earth's gravity to change its trajectory, increasing its speed by 3.5 km/s and altering its direction by 20 degrees, during a flyby on September 28, 2026, and also tested its science instruments using our planet as a target
The European Space Agency's (ESA) Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (Juice) spacecraft has successfully used Earth as a slingshot to change its trajectory towards Jupiter. On September 28, 2026, the spacecraft flew past Earth, increasing its speed by 3.5 km/s and changing its direction by 20 degrees.
The flyby was a crucial step in the spacecraft's journey to Jupiter, allowing it to conserve fuel for its scientific campaign around the planet and its moons. During the flyby, Juice passed 8640 km above the Indian Ocean at its closest point to Earth, which was reached at 13:45 CEST (11:45 UTC) on September 28.
Only one small course correction was made out of six opportunities to place the spacecraft on the precise approach needed for the gravity assist. Mission controllers began monitoring Juice closely on August 17 and will continue until October 10.
The flyby also provided scientists with a rare chance to test Juice's science instruments using Earth as a real planetary target. This was the third opportunity to test the spacecraft's instruments, following the 2024 lunar-Earth gravity assist and the 2025 observations of Comet 3I/ATLAS.
## Why it matters The successful gravity assist is a significant milestone in the Juice mission, which aims to explore Jupiter's icy moons and the planet's magnetic field. By using Earth's gravity to change its trajectory, the spacecraft can conserve fuel and ensure a successful scientific campaign around Jupiter. The mission will provide valuable insights into the Jupiter system and its potential for hosting life.
The precise navigation and careful planning that went into the gravity assist demonstrate the complexity and challenges of space exploration. The success of the flyby is a testament to the expertise and dedication of the mission controllers and scientists involved in the Juice mission.
## What happens next The Juice spacecraft will continue on its journey to Jupiter, with the next major milestone being its arrival at the planet in the future. The spacecraft will then begin its scientific campaign, exploring Jupiter's icy moons and the planet's magnetic field. The data collected during the mission will provide valuable insights into the Jupiter system and its potential for hosting life.
