NASA's Juno Spacecraft Recovers After Jupiter Flyby Anomaly, Continues Mission

NASA's Juno spacecraft experienced an anomaly during its 71st close flyby of Jupiter on April 4, 2025, which caused it to briefly enter safe mode. The cause of the anomaly is currently unknown. The spacecraft has since recovered and is operating normally.

Juno's mission is to study Jupiter's atmosphere, magnetic field, and internal structure. Each close approach provides valuable data for understanding the gas giant. The spacecraft is equipped with a titanium vault to protect it from Jupiter's harsh radiation environment.

Engineers are analyzing the data to determine the cause of the anomaly and prevent future occurrences. Juno is preparing for its next major event on May 7, 2025, a flyby of Jupiter's volcanic moon Io at a distance of 89,000 km. The mission aims to provide insights into Jupiter's formation and its moons, including Europa and Ganymede, which may harbor conditions suitable for life.

Juno's extended mission includes flybys of the moons Ganymede, Europa, and Io. These flybys provide valuable data about the moons and their environments. Juno will continue its investigation of Jupiter through September 2025, or until the spacecraft's end of life.