ESA’s JUICE Probe Completes Third Earth Flyby on Route to Jupiter
The European Space Agency’s JUICE spacecraft carried out its third Earth flyby on September 28, 2026, passing roughly 5,370 miles from the planet to gain a gravity assist. A ground-based optical telescope network operated by s2a systems recorded a timelapse showing the spacecraft as a small point against the stars about 38 minutes before its closest approach. The encounter refined the craft’s route toward Jupiter and allowed instrument checks; another Earth flyby is planned for January 2029, with arrival at Jupiter expected in July 2031.
JUICE launched in April 2023 and has used several planetary encounters to reshape its path. After a lunar-Earth maneuver in August 2024 and a Venus pass in August 2025, the probe’s September 28, 2026, Earth flyby carried it about 5,370 miles above the planet, helping adjust its trajectory while conserving fuel and allowing instrument checks.
A telescope network run by s2a systems, with sites in Switzerland and Australia, recorded the craft as a faint point among stars roughly 38 minutes before closest approach. Another Earth flyby is set for January 2029, with Jupiter arrival expected in July 2031; the mission will then study Ganymede, Europa, Callisto and their possible hidden oceans.
The flyby may strengthen public interest in planetary science and engineering, as visible tracking by private telescope networks could make deep-space missions feel more accessible. Researchers and future mission planners could benefit from validated instruments and refined navigation, while space situational awareness firms may gain attention for their monitoring role. For broader audiences, JUICE’s long journey to Jupiter could sustain curiosity about icy moons and habitability, though direct everyday effects may remain limited.