Progress of Juno on its way to Jupiter

[Lord Jubjub]

I thought of just simply appending the previous thread, but that's filled with launch data and hurrahs of various sorts. There are several waypoints to mention even before it begins to cross the asteroid belt.

It will cross Mars orbit in mid-December, start falling back to Earth about a year from now, get slingshot into a faster orbit when it encounters Earth that fall, cross Mars orbit again at the beginning of 2014, and spend the next two years crossing the asteroid belt.

[slang]

Great. Good to heave reminders that it's still on its way. Just for completeness, a link to the main BAUT Juno topic:

Next New Frontiers Mission: Jupiter Polar Orbiter "Juno"

and a few so casual visitors know which spacecraft this thread tracks:

NASA Juno Webpage
Juno Wikipedia page

[ToSeek]

Photos of Juno enroute:



http://www.spaceweather.com/submissi...1312631386.jpg

http://www.spaceweather.com/submissi...1312616258.gif

[bunker9603]

How cool is that!

[Lord Jubjub]

At about 0940 GMT today, Juno crossed orbit of Mars.

Here is the simulator home page for your hours of endless fun.

[Lord Jubjub]

Juno has reached perihelion today and will begin falling back toward the sun. It will encounter Earth about 13 months from now.

[ozprof]

Juno has reached perihelion today and will begin falling back toward the sun. It will encounter Earth about 13 months from now.

errr..... I think you mean Aphelion.........

[Lord Jubjub]

errr..... I think you mean Aphelion.........

grumble, grumble. . .lack of caffeine . . . yeah, I meant aphelion. . .

[djellison]

It's first deep space maneuver was last week. The second is tomorrow. All is going well.

[Lord Jubjub]

Not paying attention to my notes. Juno crossed Mars orbit about mid-April. It will get a slingshot from Earth in October.