Spacecraft using Finnish tech to be launched from French Guiana

The European Space Agency (ESA) will launch its spacecraft Juice from French Guiana this week most likely on Thursday, said the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment in a press release on Tuesday.

Juice will be the first spacecraft to ever orbit a moon of another planet. The spacecraft contains Finnish space technology and expertise.

Juice (Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer) will spend approximately eight years cruising to Jupiter and reach it in 2031.

Juice’s mission is to explore Jupiter and its three moons, Callisto, Europa and Ganymede. Juice will enter the orbit around Jupiter’s largest moon, Ganymede, in December 2034, making it the first spacecraft to orbit a moon of another planet.

The Juice mission is a good example of the ambitious goals of ESA and its science programme.

The Finnish participants in the Juice mission include the Finnish Meteorological Institute and Aalto University, who have helped develop the computer and software for the equipment that measures gas particles in Jupiter’s icy moons.

In addition, Beyond Gravity Oy manufactured some of the spacecraft’s control and measurement electronics in Tampere.

A total of 23 countries, 18 institutions and 83 companies have taken part in developing and implementing the Juice mission, headed by the ESA.

The ESA is an international organisation that promotes cooperation between its member states in space research, science, technology and applications. Finland has been a full member of the ESA since 1995.