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JUICE performs 2026 Earth gravity-assist, boosting Jupiter, Ganymede plans

By Drooid · Sep 29, 2026, 7:57 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

The European Space Agency’s JUICE spacecraft performed an Earth gravity-assist flyby on Sept. 28, 2026.
It passed 5,370 miles (8,640 km) over the Indian Ocean at 7:45 am EDT (1145 GMT).
The maneuver deflected JUICE’s trajectory about 20 degrees and added roughly 7,830 mph (3.5 km/s) speed.
Project Scientist Claire Vallat said flybys are risky, though the Earth pass is simpler than the August 2024 lunar-Earth flyby.
JUICE retains enough fuel to orbit Jupiter in 2031 and Ganymede in 2034.

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Story summary

The European Space Agency’s JUICE spacecraft performed an Earth gravity-assist flyby on Sept. 28, 2026.
It passed 5,370 miles (8,640 km) over the Indian Ocean at 7:45 am EDT (1145 GMT).
The maneuver deflected JUICE’s trajectory about 20 degrees and added roughly 7,830 mph (3.5 km/s) speed.
Project Scientist Claire Vallat said flybys are risky, though the Earth pass is simpler than the August 2024 lunar-Earth flyby.
JUICE retains enough fuel to orbit Jupiter in 2031 and Ganymede in 2034.