Juno was launched from Cape Canaveral in Florida on August 5, 2011 and is projected to enter the orbit of Jupiter on July 4, 2016 to study the planet’s formation, evolution and structure. The key event is a 35-minute engine burn at 11:18 p.m. EDT on July 4 (0318 GMT on July 5), which will slow Juno down enough to be captured by Jupiter’s powerful gravity. / AFP PHOTO /
MIAMI, United States (AFP) — NASA’s Juno spacecraft on Monday began its attempt to orbit Jupiter, the largest and most massive planet in the solar system, the US space agency announced.
The unmanned solar-powered observatory began firing its main engine to slow down enough to be captured into Jupiter’s orbit at 11:18 pm (0318 GMT), said officials at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
“We see the expected sharp shift upward in the Doppler residuals indicating the engine has started,” said a member of mission control at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, as applause filled the room.
It will be 35 minutes before NASA learns whether the maneuver was successful.
The mission cost $1.1 billion dollars and launched five years ago from Cape Canaveral, Florida.
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