Beyond the appeal of its striking appearance, Jupiter holds valuable information about the fundamental processes that formed our solar system. The launch of the Juno mission in August 2011 will begin a five-year journey back to Jupiter to uncover the secrets hidden beneath the planet's thick, colorful clouds.
The name of the mission, Juno, is derived from Greek Mythology. Listen to the Dr. Scott Bolton (Principal Investigator) explain the origin of the name.
Juno: A unique spacecraft on a critical mission
When the solar-powered spacecraft reaches its final destination
in 2016, Juno will enter into a low, elliptical orbit circling the planet
from pole to pole. The Juno team has carefully plotted the orbit of
the innovative spacecraft to avoid lethal belts of charged particles
that surround Jupiter much like the less dense Van Allen belts that
encircle the Earth.
Once Juno enters into its orbit, infrared and microwave instruments
will begin to measure the thermal radiation emanating from deep within
Jupiter's dense atmosphere. These observations will complement previous
studies of the planet's composition by assessing the abundance and distribution
of water, and therefore oxygen. While filling missing pieces of the
puzzle of Jupiter's composition, this data also provides insight into
the planet's origins.
Meanwhile, other instruments aboard Juno will gather data about the
planet's gravitational field and polar magnetosphere. Scientists can
use this information to expand our understanding of the processes that
cause Jupiter's spectacular auroras and the baffling internal structure
of a world made mainly of hydrogen and helium.
Join the Juno team
By far the largest planet in our solar system,
Jupiter is essential to unlocking the mysteries of our solar system's
formation and early development. The Juno team invites you to participate
in the exciting journey back to Jupiter and into our origins.
Dr. Scott Bolton of the Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio,
TX is the Principal Investigator. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena,
CA manages the mission and Lockheed Martin Corporation is responsible
for the spacecraft. University of Wisconsin-Madison leads the Juno Education
and Public Outreach Program.
