The European Space Agency announced today, Tuesday, that its space probe "JOS" will launch this Thursday on an eight-year journey to Jupiter, in search of environments conducive to life available on the planet and its icy moons. The agency stated that the "Ariane 5" rocket is scheduled to lift off from the Kourou base in French Guiana on its penultimate journey carrying the "JOS" probe.
"JOS" will explore the Jupiter system and its main moons, including the volcanic Io and the three icy moons that accompany it: Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto. The probe focuses on Ganymede, the largest moon in the solar system, which also has its own magnetic field that protects it from radiation.
Project manager Véronique Louazel explained that the probe, which weighs more than six tons, will ascend to an altitude of 1,500 kilometers before being placed into orbit. It is expected to reach its final destination in 2031, located about 628 million kilometers from Earth, and the journey will be long and winding as it does not have enough power to reach Jupiter on a direct path.
It is noteworthy that the "JOS" probe, which has a total cost of 1.6 billion euros, represents the first European mission to enter the outer solar system beyond Mars.
