Europe’s Jupiter probe to stage daring lunar-earth fly-by 

European scientists attempt first-ever double slingshot manoeuvre to guide JUICE probe towards Jupiter using gravity assists.

European scientists were due to attempt a first in orbital gymnastics late on August 19, tapping into the gravity of the earth in quick succession to guide the JUICE probe towards Jupiter in the first-ever double slingshot manoeuvre.

Just over a year after it was launched, the European Space agency’s Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) is returning towards the earth on August 19-20 and will use the braking effect of its gravity to take a shortcut to Venus and onwards to Jupiter.

In a novel double manoeuvre, the Airbus-built JUICE probe will first use the gravity of the moon to swing towards the earth on exactly the right trajectory.

That’s risky because the slightest error at that stage would be amplified by the second part of the routine which involves using the earth’s gravity to slow down. Scientists warn that could derail the eight-year odyssey to reach Jupiter and its moons.

“Inherently this is a bit tricky, because you would need to correct any error, and you would need propellant for that,” Nicolas Altobelli, JUICE Mission Manager, said in an interview.

Scientists have used the “gravity assist” method for decades to navigate the solar system while saving propellant.

It involves brushing past a planet or moon and using the power of its gravity to speed up, slow down or alter course.