One current NASA mission is Juno. Juno is a NASA space probe orbiting the planet Jupiter. The spacecraft was launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on August 5, 2011. Juno is a part of the New Frontiers program and entered a polar orbit of Jupiter on July 5, 2016 to begin a scientific investigation of the planet. Juno is the second spacecraft to orbit Jupiter, after the nuclear powered Galileo orbiter, which orbited from 1995 to 2003. This mission will consumed five years, while costing $1.1 billion. Juno has currently been a huge success. Juno completed a five-year cruise to Jupiter, arriving on July 5, 2016. The spacecraft traveled a total distance of 2.8 billion kilometers (18.7 astronomical units; 1.74 billion miles) to reach Jupiter. Its trajectory used a gravity assist speed boost from Earth, accomplished by an Earth flyby in October 2013, two years after its launch. The mission of Juno has been long and productive. “During the science mission, infrared and microwave instruments will measure the thermal radiation emanating from deep within Jupiter's …show more content…
Juno's principal goal is to understand the origin and evolution of Jupiter with the usage of science instruments. The determination how much water is in Jupiter's atmosphere, which will reveal which planet formation theory is correct (or if new theories are needed) is being researched. To look deep into Jupiter's atmosphere to measure composition, temperature, cloud motions and other properties are under investigation. The ability to map Jupiter's magnetic and gravity fields is sought, to reveal the planet's deep structure. Lastly, Juno will explore and study Jupiter's magnetosphere near the planet's poles. Exploration near Jupiter's northern and southern lights will provide new insights about how the planet's enormous magnetic force field affects its