European Space Agency’s mission to Jupiter to attempt launch today

The European Space Agency’s mission to Jupiter will take place on Friday, April 14 at 1.14pm Irish time, all going to plan.

The six-tonne probe, named Juice (Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer), was due to head towards the solar system’s biggest planet to see if its ocean-bearing moons support life.

A lightning risk temporarily halted what would have been the agency’s first attempt to send spacecraft to orbit another planet’s moon yesterday.

After lift-off, Juice is expected to separate from the rocket about half an hour later, and embark on a 4.1 billion-mile journey that will take more than eight years.

Juice has 10 instruments on board, which will investigate whether the gas giant’s three moons Callisto, Europa and Ganymede, can support life in its oceans.

Scientists from Imperial College London have led the development of one instrument, known as the magnetometer.

Called J-MAG, it will measure the characteristics of magnetic fields of Jupiter and Ganymede – the only moon known to produce its own magnetic field.

Engineers and mission controllers have very short launch windows to send the spacecraft on its journey.

This is because Venus and Earth need to be in the perfect position for Juice to perform a manoeuvre known as gravitational assist, where it will use the gravity of the planets to slingshot towards Jupiter.

Dr Ben Dryer, research fellow at the Open University, who was involved in the early stages of the Juice mission, said: “It is always a disappointment to see a launch delay, but really this is business as usual.

“Launch is always risky, so with such a precious payload, it makes sense to wait for perfect conditions.

“Due to the complex orbital manoeuvres required by Juice to launch it towards Jupiter while conserving as much fuel as possible, there is only a one-second launch window.

“If that launch window looks hazardous, it makes sense to postpone.

“There are one-second launch windows each day for the rest of April.”