When approaching Jupiter for the 71st time, the spacecraft suddenly went into a cautious mode unexpectedly.
The data obtained from NASA’s Juno mission shows that the solar-powered spacecraft entered safe mode twice on April 4 during its pass near Jupiter. This protective state is triggered when the craft encounters an issue. In this condition, non-essential operations halt, with primary focus shifting towards maintaining communications and managing energy use. Once in safe mode, all scientific equipment onboard Juno automatically shut down for the duration of the flyby.
The mission operations team has reestablished high-rate data transmission with Juno, and the spacecraft is currently conducting flight software diagnostics. The team will work in the ensuing days to transmit the engineering and science data collected before and after the safe-mode events to Earth.
At 5:17 a.m. EDT, Juno initially entered safe mode approximately one hour prior to its 71st approach near Jupiter, known as perijove. About 45 minutes post-perijove, the craft experienced another entry into safe mode. In each instance, the vehicle functioned precisely according to design specifications; it reset its onboard computer, deactivated unnecessary systems, and oriented its antenna towards Earth for communications purposes.
Among all the planets in our solar system, Jupiter hosts the harshest conditions, particularly due to its powerful radiation belts which are strongest near the planet’s surface. Initial data indicates that the two safe-mode activations during Perijove 71 happened when the spacecraft was traversing these intense regions. To shield delicate electronic components from damaging high-speed particles and reduce the adverse impacts of radiation exposure, Juno incorporates special protections. titanium radiation vault .
In addition to the Perijove 71 occurrences, Juno has inadvertently gone into spacecraft-safe mode four times since. arriving In July 2016 at Jupiter: initially, In 2016 during its second orbital revolution , then in In 2022 during its 39th revolution In each of the four instances, the spacecraft operated as intended and regained full functionality.
Juno’s upcoming close approach to Jupiter, known as perijove, is set for May 7 and will feature a pass by the Jovian moon Io from approximately 55,300 miles away (or around 89,000 kilometers).
More About Juno
The Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), located in Pasadena, California, and operated under the auspices of Caltech, oversees the management of the Juno mission led by Principal Investigator Scott Bolton from the Southwest Research Institute based in San Antonio. As part of NASA’s New Frontiers Program—managed out of NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center situated in Huntsville, Alabama—the program answers directly to NASA’s Science Mission Directorate found in Washington D.C. Contributions towards specific technologies were made through partnerships with various organizations across the United States; notably, ASI contributed funding specifically directed toward developing the Jovian Infrared Auroral Mapper technology. Meanwhile, construction and operational responsibilities related to the space probe itself fall upon Lockheed Martin Space facilities in Denver. Several additional research entities within the country also played roles contributing particular components used throughout different parts of the Juno project.
Additional details regarding Juno can be found at:
https://www.nasa.gov/juno