NASA’s Juno spacecraft has successfully entered Jupiter’s orbit, and arrived near the planet’s North pole at 11:18PM ET.
As teams at NASA phrased it best – ‘Welcome to Jupiter!’ Earlier today at 11:18 ET, the space agency’s Juno spacecraft officially entered the gas giant’s orbit.
NASA held an official press conference shortly thereafter, where Juno’s principal investigator, Scott Bolton, cheered that “NASA did it again” to applause from both team members and the press alike.
Read: NASA reveals the transit of Mercury in incredible new video
Juno entered Jupiter’s orbit where it activated its main engine for 35 minutes in a bid to slow the craft down to a speed where it could be captured by the planet’s gravitational pull.
NASA officially confirmed that Juno had entered its 53-day orbit roughly half an hour later at 11:53 ET.
The craft’s journey was nothing short of perilous, as it had to travel through not only rings of debris surrounding Jupiter but further through regions of powerful radiation.
Success! Engine burn complete. #Juno is now orbiting #Jupiter, poised to unlock the planet’s secrets. https://t.co/YFsOJ9YYb5
“” NASA (@NASA) July 5, 2016
The mission will see the craft fly over the north pole and then over Jupiter’s equator, where it will finally be swung back out into space above the gas giant’s south pole.
That travel sequence, known as the Perijove pass, will last just hours while the craft’s instruments will begin to analyse the planet’s gravity, magnetic field, and the amount of water in its atmosphere.
Juno is slated to complete two 53 day orbits in its lifetime before it will meet its death and dive directly into the planet. During that time, the craft will complete 37 orbits around the planet.
Read: NASA‘s Dawn mission gets up close with Ceres
What are your thoughts on NASA officially reaching Jupiter? Be sure to let us know your opinion in the comments below!
Follow Bryan Smith on Twitter: @bryansmithSA
Source: NASA
