The radar antenna of Juice, the European Jupiter probe, has finally been extended to its full position after initial setbacks. The European Space Agency (ESA) announced that on May 12, an igniter activated a “non-explosive actuator,” which shifted a jammed pin obstacle and allowed the antenna to unfold completely. The flight control team confirmed that the “Radar for Icy Moons Exploration” antenna has reached the targeted position. The problems with the radar antenna occurred two weeks after the successful launch. They were suspected to have been caused by a tiny, jammed pin, which prevented the 16m-long radar antenna from coming loose from its anchorage.
The problems that NASA faced with the Lucy probe, which was also flying to Jupiter, are very similar to Juice’s setback. A non-fully-unfolded solar panel on the Lucy probe could not be fully engaged. At present, the space probe is more than 7.3 million kilometers away from Earth. It is still engaged in activating sensors and instruments, and it will take months to complete this work. In 2031, it should reach the Jupiter system and devote itself in particular to the three moons Ganymede, Callisto, and Europa, which may offer favorable conditions for the emergence of life.
Ganymede, Callisto, Europa, and Io together form the four Galilean moons which were discovered by Italian explorer Galileo Galilei in 1610. Disturbingly, after Galileo’s discovery, these moons only became the subject of another deep space exploration in the 21st century; despite being in close proximity to Earth and Jupiter. Juice is expected to aid in the discovery of new data on these moons.
