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Juno (spacecraft) facts for kids

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Juno
Juno Mission to Jupiter (2010 Artist's Concept).jpg
Artist's rendering of the Juno spacecraft at Jupiter
Mission type Jupiter orbiter
Operator NASA / JPL
Website
  • (NASA)
  • (SwRI)
Mission duration Planned: 7 years
Elapsed: 13 years, 10 months, 18 days

Cruise: 4 years, 10 months, 29 days
Science phase: 4 years (extended until July 2021)
Spacecraft properties
Manufacturer Lockheed Martin
Launch mass 3,625 kg (7,992 lb)
Dry mass 1,593 kg (3,512 lb)
Dimensions 20.1 × 4.6 m (66 × 15 ft)
Power 14 kW at Earth, 435 W at Jupiter
2 × 55-ampere-hour lithium-ion batteries
Start of mission
Launch date August 5, 2011, 16:25 (2011-08-05UTC16:25) UTC
Rocket Atlas V 551 (AV-029)
Launch site Cape Canaveral SLC-41
Contractor United Launch Alliance
Juno mission insignia.svg
Juno mission insignia
New Frontiers program

The Juno spacecraft is a special space probe from NASA. It is currently orbiting the giant planet Jupiter. Lockheed Martin built Juno, and NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory controls it.

Juno launched on August 5, 2011, from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. It was part of the New Frontiers program. The spacecraft reached Jupiter and started its science mission on July 5, 2016. Juno flies in a special path called a polar orbit around Jupiter. When its mission is over, Juno will be sent into Jupiter's atmosphere on purpose.

Juno's main job is to study Jupiter. It measures the planet's makeup, its gravity, and its magnetic field. It also looks at Jupiter's polar magnetosphere. Scientists hope Juno will help them understand how Jupiter formed. This includes finding out if Jupiter has a rocky core and how much water is deep inside its atmosphere. Juno also studies Jupiter's strong winds, which can blow up to 618 kilometers per hour (384 mph).

Juno flight path
Juno flight path

Juno is the second spacecraft to orbit Jupiter. The first was the Galileo orbiter, which used nuclear power. Galileo orbited Jupiter from 1995 to 2003. Unlike Galileo and other probes sent far into space, Juno uses solar arrays for power. These are usually used by satellites closer to Earth. Juno has three very large solar panels. They help power the spacecraft and keep it stable.

Juno gets its name from Greek and Roman mythology. In these stories, the god Jupiter would hide behind clouds. His wife, the goddess Juno, could see through the clouds to find out his true nature.

The Juno mission was first planned to cost about $700 million. It was supposed to launch in 2009. But due to budget changes, it was delayed until August 2011. It launched on an Atlas V rocket. By 2011, the mission was expected to cost about $1.1 billion.

Juno's Science Goals

The Juno spacecraft has many science tools. These tools help it study Jupiter in detail:

  • Water in Jupiter: Juno will measure how much water is in Jupiter's atmosphere. This helps scientists understand how Jupiter and our Solar System were made.
  • Jupiter's Core: It will get a better idea of how big Jupiter's core is. This also helps with theories about the Solar System's formation.
  • Gravity Map: Juno will map Jupiter's gravitational field very carefully. This shows how mass is spread out inside Jupiter. It helps us learn about the planet's structure.
  • Magnetic Field: The probe will map Jupiter's magnetic field. This helps scientists understand where the field comes from and how deep inside Jupiter it is created.
  • Atmosphere Study: Juno will map changes in Jupiter's atmosphere. This includes its makeup, temperature, clouds, and winds at different heights.
  • Polar Lights: It will explore the 3D structure of Jupiter's polar magnetosphere and its amazing auroras (like the Northern Lights on Earth).

Special Items on Juno

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The inclusion of the three mini-statues, or figurines, is part of a joint outreach and educational program developed as part of the partnership between NASA and the LEGO Group to inspire children to explore science, technology, engineering and mathematics

Juno carries a special plaque dedicated to Galileo Galilei. The Italian Space Agency provided this plaque. It is made of strong aluminum and weighs only 6 grams (0.21 oz). The plaque shows a picture of Galileo. It also has words written by Galileo himself in 1610. These words describe his observations of Jupiter's largest moons, now called the Galilean moons.

The spacecraft also carries three special Lego minifigures. These figures represent Galileo, the Roman god Jupiter, and the goddess Juno. The Juno minifigure holds a magnifying glass, showing she is searching for truth. Jupiter holds a lightning bolt. Galileo Galilei has his telescope with him.

NASA and the Lego Group worked together on these minifigures. They are part of a program to get kids interested in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Most Lego toys are plastic, but these minifigures are made of aluminum. This helps them survive the extreme conditions of space travel.

Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Juno (sonda espacial) para niños

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