JUICE successfully passes Earth en route to Jupiter
The European space probe used its flyby of Earth to adjust its trajectory while also gathering scientific data.
The JUICE space probe of the European Space Agency (ESA) successfully completed a planned flyby of Earth on Monday. The manoeuvre changes the probe’s speed and direction on its way to Jupiter, where it is due to study the planet’s large icy moons.
According to ESA, JUICE came to within approximately 8,640 kilometres of Earth on 28 September. Such a gravity assist makes it possible to adjust a space probe’s trajectory without using large amounts of fuel. As a result, the probe follows a more efficient route to the outer Solar System.
The mission was launched from French Guiana in April 2023. Since then, ESA has sent the probe past the Moon, Earth and Venus to adjust its trajectory step by step. The recent flyby was the third major gravity manoeuvre on its journey towards Jupiter.
JUICE’s ten scientific instruments were switched on around the time of the flyby. Between 23 September and 3 October, they are collecting data about Earth and the Moon. This allows teams to test the instruments using objects whose properties are already well known.
After the flyby, ESA published images of Earth and parts of Africa. The cameras used for this purpose are primarily intended to monitor antennas and other parts of the probe. They were therefore not designed as ordinary cameras for Earth observation.
The flyby also affects the rest of the flight schedule. ESA says JUICE is now on course for another flyby of Earth in 2029. The journey will then continue to Jupiter, where the probe is expected to arrive in 2031 and study the planet’s surroundings and its icy moons.
The flyby is an operational success, not a new discovery about Jupiter or its moons. The scientific data still need to be processed and interpreted. The main value of this step is that the probe is continuing along its planned route and can test instruments and navigation systems in space along the way.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
All technical and temporal claims come from recent ESA publications. The article clearly distinguishes between a successful manoeuvre and scientific data that still need to be analysed.
- confirmed JUICE passed Earth on 28 September 2026 at a distance of approximately 8,640 kilometres. — ESA gives the date and distance of the flyby. source
- confirmed The flyby was used as a gravity assist to adjust the probe’s speed and direction. — ESA describes the purpose of the flyby. source
- confirmed Ten scientific instruments collected data between 23 September and 3 October. — This period and the number of instruments are stated in ESA mission information. source
- confirmed JUICE is on course for another flyby of Earth in 2029 and arrival at Jupiter in 2031. — ESA names both milestones in the mission planning. source
Editor's note
The operational data and planning come from ESA sources. The scientific results from the instrument measurements are not yet known; for that reason, no breakthrough is claimed.Sources
- Juice to fly past Earth for third gravity assist — European Space Agency
- Juice images Earth during Earth flyby — European Space Agency
- Juice flies by Earth – the complete path — European Space Agency
More on this in Dutch media
- De Telegraaf — „juice esa”
- AD — „juice esa”
- de Volkskrant — „juice esa”