Juno Spacecraft

space exploration · Jupiter · NASA · science

Launched in 2011. Juno blasted off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on August 5, 2011, and traveled for nearly five years before reaching Jupiter in 2016.

Polar orbit explorer. Unlike many satellites that circle the equator, Juno orbits over Jupiter's north and south poles, giving it a unique view of the giant planet's atmosphere and magnetic field.

Built by Lockheed Martin. A team of engineers designed and assembled Juno, while NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory controls the spacecraft from Earth.

Moon close-ups ahead. Juno is now exploring Jupiter's small inner moons like Thebe, Amalthea, and Metis, places that have never been visited up close by any spacecraft before.

Still going strong. Instead of crashing into Jupiter like originally planned, Juno has been approved to keep orbiting and sending back discoveries until its power finally runs out.