Spacecraft snaps shots of Moon on its way to slingshot to Jupiter

By Dean Murray via SWNS

A spacecraft snapped an image of the Moon as it prepared a historic slingshot off towards Jupiter.

ESA's Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (Juice) is attempting to achieve a double world first: using the gravity of the Moon and then Earth to bend its path through space.

Launched in April 2023, Juice began the first-ever lunar-Earth flyby on Monday (19 Aug) by passing the Moon, as part of the double gravity assist maneuver.

It will today fly by Earth, before slingshotting out into space with altered speed and direction.

ESA said: "It will change Juice’s speed and direction to alter its course through space, but it’s a daring feat; the slightest mistake could take Juice off course and spell the end of the mission.

"During the flyby, Earth will bend Juice’s trajectory through space, ‘braking’ it and redirecting it on course for a flyby of Venus in August 2025.

"From that moment on, the energy boosts will begin, with Juice being whizzed up by Venus and then twice by Earth – the space exploration equivalent of drinking three back-to-back espressos."

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