07.10.14
Mission Status
NASA’s Juno spacecraft spin diameter,
as compared to the length of a professional basketball court. Image
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
WHERE IS JUNO?
As of June 30, 2014, Juno is approximately 370 million miles (596 million kilometers) from Earth. The one-way radio signal travel time between Earth and Juno is currently about 33 minutes. Juno is traveling at a velocity of approximately 11 miles (17 kilometers) per second relative to the sun, and 29 miles (46 kilometers) per second relative to Earth. Juno has now traveled 1.36 billion miles (2.2 billion kilometers, or 14.6 AU) since launch.
Visualize Juno's current position and velocity using NASA's Eyes on the Solar System 3D interactive or the NASA/JPL Solar System Simulator.
RECENT SPACECRAFT SIGNIFICANT EVENTS
On June 18 at approximately 3 AU from the sun, the remaining 6 of Juno’s 11 solar panel arrays were activated. This means all 18,698 solar cells—which cover a surface area of more that 650 square feet across the spacecraft’s 29.5 foot-long arrays—are now online.
The operations team conducted a multi-day High Voltage Check-Out for one of Juno’s magnetosphere analysis instruments, JEDI (Jovian Energetic Particle Detector Instrument). And on May 28, the second main engine flush was successfully completed. The Juno spacecraft remains in excellent health and is operating nominally.
DID YOU KNOW?
Did you know that Juno is spinning at a rate of 2 rotations per minute?
The spacecraft is spin stabilized to ensure it is pointed in the right direction during its journey to Jupiter, and oriented correctly when gathering scientific measurements upon arrival. Juno’s spin diameter, which is measured using the longest of the three solar panel arrays, is 81 feet (25 meters)—the approximate distance between the hoops of a professional basketball court!
As of June 30, 2014, Juno is approximately 370 million miles (596 million kilometers) from Earth. The one-way radio signal travel time between Earth and Juno is currently about 33 minutes. Juno is traveling at a velocity of approximately 11 miles (17 kilometers) per second relative to the sun, and 29 miles (46 kilometers) per second relative to Earth. Juno has now traveled 1.36 billion miles (2.2 billion kilometers, or 14.6 AU) since launch.
Visualize Juno's current position and velocity using NASA's Eyes on the Solar System 3D interactive or the NASA/JPL Solar System Simulator.
RECENT SPACECRAFT SIGNIFICANT EVENTS
On June 18 at approximately 3 AU from the sun, the remaining 6 of Juno’s 11 solar panel arrays were activated. This means all 18,698 solar cells—which cover a surface area of more that 650 square feet across the spacecraft’s 29.5 foot-long arrays—are now online.
The operations team conducted a multi-day High Voltage Check-Out for one of Juno’s magnetosphere analysis instruments, JEDI (Jovian Energetic Particle Detector Instrument). And on May 28, the second main engine flush was successfully completed. The Juno spacecraft remains in excellent health and is operating nominally.
DID YOU KNOW?
Did you know that Juno is spinning at a rate of 2 rotations per minute?
The spacecraft is spin stabilized to ensure it is pointed in the right direction during its journey to Jupiter, and oriented correctly when gathering scientific measurements upon arrival. Juno’s spin diameter, which is measured using the longest of the three solar panel arrays, is 81 feet (25 meters)—the approximate distance between the hoops of a professional basketball court!