ESA's Pioneering Double Slingshot to Jupiter: A Celestial Ballet

European scientists are attempting the first-ever double slingshot manoeuvre with the JUICE probe, using the gravity of the Moon and Earth to propel it towards Jupiter. This novel, high-risk technique aims to guide the probe on a multi-year journey to study Jupiter's large, ocean-bearing moons and their potential to support life.

European scientists are poised to execute a groundbreaking maneuver in space exploration: the first-ever double slingshot using the gravitational forces of both the Moon and Earth. The critical operation aims to propel the JUICE probe towards its ultimate destination, Jupiter, in a calculated sequence of orbital gymnastics never before attempted.

Set to occur just over a year after its launch, the European Space Agency's Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) will return close to Earth this weekend to utilize Earth's gravity as a braking mechanism. This risky, high-stakes venture could redirect the probe towards Venus and, eventually, Jupiter's vast system of moons.

Scientists have utilized gravity assists for decades to navigate the solar system efficiently, but this week's maneuver breaks new ground. If successful, JUICE will continue on its path, expected to arrive at Jupiter by 2031, where it will scrutinize its large, ocean-bearing moons, Callisto, Europa, and Ganymede, exploring their potential to harbor life.

(With inputs from agencies.)