Juno—NASA's current mission to Jupiter—is running out of time.
Launched in 2011 and arriving to its destination 5 years later (on the 4th of July, no less), this U.S. spacecraft has spent nearly a decade lifting the veil on our solar system's biggest planet. Now, however, its mission may be at an end, with an official expiration set for next month.
Juno's Jovian sojourn has taken it repeatedly swooping through Jupiter's intense, electronics-frying radiation belts—but the spacecraft is still in remarkably good health, fully functional and ready for more science. No other mission is presently at the giant planet; two—NASA's Clipper and the ESA's JUICE—are inbound albeit still years away.
Juno's team is hoping NASA will give their mission a reprieve, but the prospects appear gloomy given ongoing uncertainties as the White House, Congress, federal agencies and external stakeholders all squabble over federal budget numbers. Can Juno be saved?
Read our top story (linked at the top of this note) to find out more—and to savor the stunning science and beautiful imagery our latest, greatest emissary to Jupiter has beamed back home.
Thoughts? Questions? Let me know via e-mail (lbillings@sciam.com), Twitter or Bluesky.
Thanks for reading, and I'll see you next time.
—Lee Billings
