Astronomy

Key radar antenna stuck on Europe’s Jupiter-bound spacecraft

April 28, 2023

On this undated photograph offered by the European Area Company, a 1:18 scale mannequin of the Juice mission’s RIME antenna – Radar for Icy Moons Exploration, mounted on prime of a simplified spacecraft mannequin throughout assessments within the Hertz facility on the European Area Analysis and Know-how Centre (ESTEC) in Noordwijk, The Netherlands. The European Area Company stated Friday, April 28, 2023, that the 52-foot radar antenna on its Juice spacecraft unfolded solely one-third of the best way following liftoff. Credit score: European Area Company through AP

A important antenna is jammed on a Jupiter-bound spacecraft launched two weeks in the past, the European Area Company reported Friday.

The 52-foot (16-meter) radar antenna on Juice unfolded solely one-third of the best way following liftoff, in accordance with the space company.

Engineers suspect a tiny pin could also be protruding. Flight controllers in Germany plan to fireplace the spacecraft’s engine in hopes of shaking the pin unfastened. If that does not work, they stated they’ve loads of time to unravel the issue.

Juice, brief for Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer, will not attain the large planet till 2031. It is taking a roundabout path to get there, together with gravity-assist flybys of Earth and our moon, and Venus.

The radar antenna is required to see beneath the icy crust of three Jupiter moons suspected of harboring underground oceans and probably life, a serious objective of the practically $1.8 billion mission. Its targets embody Callisto, Europa and Ganymede, the most important moon within the solar system.

This photograph offered by the European Area Company exhibits an Ariane 5 rocket carrying the Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer, Juice, spacecraft on a launch pad at Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, on Wednesday, April 12, 2023. The European Area Company stated Friday, April 28, 2023, that the 52-foot radar antenna on its Juice spacecraft unfolded solely one-third of the best way following liftoff. Credit score: Stephane Corvaja/ESA through AP

Key radar antenna stuck on Europe's Jupiter-bound spacecraft — This photograph offered by the European Area Company exhibits an Ariane 5 rocket carrying the Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer, Juice, spacecraft on a launch pad at Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, on Wednesday, April 12, 2023. The European Area Company stated Friday, April 28, 2023, that the 52-foot radar antenna on its Juice spacecraft unfolded solely one-third of the best way following liftoff. Credit score: Stephane Corvaja/ESA through AP

The space company stated the whole lot else goes properly with the spacecraft, concerning the measurement of a small bus. A radio antenna, solar panels and a 35-foot (10.6-meter) increase for measuring Jupiter’s magnetic area have all been efficiently deployed.

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Key radar antenna caught on Europe’s Jupiter-bound spacecraft (2023, April 28)
retrieved 28 April 2023
from https://phys.org/information/2023-04-key-radar-antenna-stuck-europe.html

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