JUICE performs third Earth gravity assist and JANUS test
- JUICE completed its third Earth gravity assist at 11:45 UTC, passing 8,641 km above the Indian Ocean.
- JANUS operated for five days and collected 740 images of Earth and the Moon.
- The camera produced vegetation contrast measurements and experimental vegetation index maps.
- PRISMA data from ASI provide a reference for comparing JANUS measurements.
What happened
JUICE performed its third Earth gravity assist. The maneuver included a five-day JANUS camera test that confirmed the camera's performance under real conditions.
What we know
JUICE launched in 2023 on Ariane 5 and is following a gravity-assist trajectory.
The third Earth gravity assist is listed with 11:45 UTC, 8,641 km and the Indian Ocean. A JUICE record dated August 2025 appears alongside these details.
The record also links JANUS to a simulation of Jupiter system observations.
JANUS operated for five days, collected 740 images and performed continuous Earth surface observation. Its targets included the western Indian Ocean, Madagascar and central Africa, and it also imaged the Moon in almost full phase.
The camera made visible and near-infrared vegetation contrast measurements, yielded experimental vegetation index maps, and produced calibrated frames projected onto the surface as red, green and blue composites. A related figure is 250–300 km.
PRISMA is an ASI satellite, and its data are used as a reference for JANUS.
Why it matters
For readers tracking the lunar industry, the Moon images, calibrated surface frames and vegetation-index maps show a verified remote-sensing workflow. The PRISMA reference data add a comparison point for JANUS measurements.
What's next
Planned EnMAP observations include mining-area case studies.
Sources
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