Juno is a NASA mission to Jupiter that cost roughly $700 million and launched on June 30, 2010. The spacecraft will be placed in a polar orbit in order to study the planet's magnetic field. Juno will also be searching for evidence that Jupiter has a rocky core, the amount of water present within the atmosphere, and researching Jupiter's wind (which can reach speeds of 600 km/h).
It will be the first mission to Jupiter using solar panels instead of radioisotope thermoelectric generators.
Mission summary[]
Juno, which is set for launch on June 30, 2010, is a New Frontiers mission to study the planet Jupiter. Originally, JIMO was proposed to orbit Jupiter and study its environment in addition of orbiting three moons, Callisto, Ganymede, and Europa, but due to heavy budgetary concerns and the availability of proposed nuclear power systems, NASA eventually cut funding and then canceled it. NASA has currently proposed two different routes for Juno's cruise to Jupiter: one is a direct pathway to Jupiter from Earth, while another route would add complicated Venus and Earth fly-bys. the second option seems unnecessary, the propulsion power source of the spacecraft would be solar panels, not RTGs like other outer solar system probes. On arriving, it has been proposed the orbiter perform aerobraking with the upper Jovian atmosphere to reduce its orbit into science operational orbit. efrferere
Current status[]
Currently, the mission is a proposed spacecraft in the early planning stages. Although the price of the mission is lower than for most other spacecraft, a launch vehicle must be ready for Juno to be launched. Both the Atlas V rocket and Delta IV rocket have been proposed.
Solar panels[]
Unlike the Galileo Orbiter Juno will use solar panels rather than radioisotope thermoelectric generators. The reason for this is the significant advancement is solar cell technology and efficiency over the past several decades, which now makes it economically feasible to use solar panels of practical size to provide sufficient power at such a great distance from the sun. In addition, a short supply cut of RTGs has made them limited to space missions, as well as the avoidance of the worst of Jupiter's intense radiation environment. Also, by using solar energy, NASA avoids the protests associated with launching RTGs into space (due to accusations of public safety risks, which NASA refutes in detailed scientific reports); however, it should be noted that NASA plans several more projects involving RTGs, and the decision to use alternate technology on this mission is more practical and economical than political.
See also ur mother in the strip club (make it rain)[]
- Pioneer 10
- Galileo
- JIMO
References[]
External links[]
- NASA Selects New Frontiers Concept Study: Juno Mission to Jupiter at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
- The Juno Mission to Jupiter at Space.com
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