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Mission to Jupiter

Juno

The Juno spacecraft, which entered orbit around Jupiter on July 4, 2016, is the first explorer to peer below the planet's dense clouds to answer questions about the gas giant itself and the origins of our solar system. Now in an extended mission phase, the agency’s most distant planetary orbiter continues its investigation.

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Juno

Mission Statistics

Time in Orbit

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Launch Date

Aug. 5, 2011

Type

Orbiter

Target

Jupiter

Status

Current

About the mission

On August 5, 2011, NASA’s Juno spacecraft embarked on a 5-year journey to Jupiter, our solar system's largest planet. Juno arrived at Jupiter on July 4, 2016, after a five-year, 1,740-million-mile journey, and settled into a 53-day polar orbit stretching from just above Jupiter’s cloud tops to the outer reaches of the Jovian magnetosphere.

During the prime mission’s 35 orbits of Jupiter, Juno collected more than three terabits of science data and provided dazzling views of Jupiter and its satellites, all processed by citizen scientists with NASA’s first-ever camera dedicated to public outreach. Juno’s many discoveries have changed our view of Jupiter’s atmosphere and interior, revealing an atmospheric weather layer that extends far beyond its water clouds and a deep interior with a dilute heavy element core. Near the end of the prime mission, as the spacecraft’s orbit evolved, flybys of the moon Ganymede initiated Juno’s transition into a full Jovian system explorer.

Now in its extended mission, Juno will continue its investigation of the solar system’s largest planet through September 2025, or until the spacecraft’s end of life. This extension tasks Juno with becoming an explorer of the full Jovian system – Jupiter and its rings and moons – with additional rendezvous planned for two of Jupiter’s most intriguing moons: Europa and Io.

Instruments

  • Gravity Science
  • Magnetometer (MAG)
  • Microwave Radiometer (MWR)
  • Jupiter Energetic Particle Detector Instrument (JEDI)
  • Jovian Auroral Distributions Experiment (JADE)
  • Waves
  • Ultraviolet Imaging Spectrograph (UVS)
  • Jovian Infrared Auroral Mapper (JIRAM)
  • JunoCam
  • Stellar Reference Unit (SRU)

Mission Highlights

Aug. 5, 2011

Launch

Juno launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida.

August-September 2012

Deep Space Maneuevers

The spacecraft performed deep space maneuvers during August-September 2012.

Oct. 1, 2013

Earth Flyby Gravity Assist

Juno performed an Earth flyby with gravity assist during the month of October, 2013.

July 4, 2016

Jupiter Arrival and Orbit Insertion

The spacecraft arrived at Jupiter and performed its orbit insertion on this date.

Aug. 1, 2021

Extended Mission

Now in an extended mission phase, the agency’s most distant planetary orbiter continues its investigation of the solar system’s largest planet.

September 2025

End of Mission

Juno’s investigation of Jupiter will continue through September 2025, or until the spacecraft’s end of life.
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Jupiter
Juno

Interactive 3D model of Juno. View the full interactive experience at Eyes on the Solar System.

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Mission Website
NASA Mission Website
Jupiter Orbit Insertion Press Kit
Mission Fact Sheet (PDF)
Launch Press Kit (PDF)
JPL Education: Discover Juno
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