European mission en route to Jupiter after successful launch

In a remarkable feat of scientific and engineering collaboration, the long-awaited launch of the Jupiter Icy Moon Explorer (JUICE) of the European Space Agency (ESA) has taken place on April 14, 2023, setting its course for an ambitious mission to study the enigmatic moons of Jupiter. The KTH Space and Plasma Physics division is part  of the Radio and Plasma Wave Investigation (RPWI), one of the 11 science instruments onboard the spacecraft.

RPWI instrument aims to characterize the plasma environment and radio emissions from the moons and the planet and is itself composed of four experiments, including Langmuir probes and electric field antennas. The SPP group has long experience with space-based measurements of electric fields and plasmas (charged gas) having been involved in several missions to the near-Earth and planetary environments. 

After the very successful launch, JUICE embarked on an 8-year long journey through the Solar System before it arrives at the target planet in July 2031. All instruments have been commissioned and scientist are now looking forward with excitement to the first measurements after the long waiting time.