Journalists will have a rare opportunity to see the spacecraft in the Payload Processing Facility before it is launched on an Ariane 5 rocket in April 2023.
Europe and its international partners are sending Juice to explore Jupiter and its three largest icy moons- Ganymede, Callisto and Europa - with a suite of ten unique science instruments, one experiment and one radiation monitor.
The mission will characterise these ocean-bearing moons as both planetary objects and possible habitats for life. It will also explore Jupiter’s complex environment in depth and study the wider Jupiter system as an archetype for gas giants across the Universe.
Juice will complete several Solar System firsts. It will be the first spacecraft ever to orbit a moon other than our own - Jupiter’s largest moon Ganymede. And en route to Jupiter it is expected to perform the first ever lunar-Earth gravity assist to save propellant.
Juice will also be the last ESA mission to launch on an Ariane 5 from ESA’s Spaceport in Kourou, before Ariane 6 takes over.
In light of this milestone, participating media will be given the unique opportunity to see next-generation space launcher, Ariane 6, on its launch pad as it undergoes a series of tests.
Experts from ESA Science, Arianespace and others will be available on site for interviews during the pre-launch media visit.
Programme
*Please note that the programme can be modified at short notice because of operational constraints.Wednesday 8 March - Thursday 9 March 2023
- Visit of Ariane 5 launch facilities;
- Visit of Ariane 6 launch facilities;
- Opportunity to see Juice in its stowed configuration
ESA spokespeople and experts, as well as spokespeople from Arianespace and other partners, will be available on site for interviews including:
Giuseppe Sarri ESA Juice Project Manager
Daniel de Chambure ESA Ariane 5 project manager
Registration
Please express interest by 30 January at 23:59 CET for the pre-launch media visit in Kourou, French Guiana, specifying which media activity you would like to attend:https://blogs.esa.int/forms/esa-media-briefing-form
After registering, media will receive additional information to take part in media activities at Europe’s Spaceport.
Please note:
- all costs and expenses for this launch media trip will have to be borne by the participating media;
- ESA will recommend flight dates and accommodation options to confirmed participants to facilitate the trip;
- because the number of places is limited, ESA cannot guarantee all interested media will be able to join this visit;
- accreditation formalities to access the Europe’s Spaceport will have to be completed after confirmation of participation;
- yellow fever vaccination is compulsory to enter French Guiana (this will be checked at the airport).
