The JUICE Lunar–Earth gravity assist from trajectory design, navigation and spacecraft operations perspective
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: This paper describes the world's first-ever Lunar–Earth Gravity Assist (LEGA) performed by ESA's JUICE spacecraft on 19–20 August 2024 from trajectory design, navigation and spacecraft operations point of view. This double flyby – Moon first, Earth second – enabled a large Delta-V gain while minimizing propellant use, redirecting JUICE towards its next destination: Venus (August 2025) and ultimately Jupiter (2031). The manoeuvre was unprecedented in complexity, requiring extremely accurate navigation, rigorous preparation, and coordinated operations across engineering, flight dynamics, and science teams. Overall, JUICE demonstrated outstanding platform stability, navigation accuracy, and subsystem robustness during this critical milestone, validating the operational feasibility of LEGA as an enabling technique for complex interplanetary trajectories.
Source: Annales Geophysicae
Authors: Angela Dietz, Arnaud Boutonnet, Frank Budnik
Institution: European Space Operations Centre
Language: English
Subfield: Aerospace Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,186
OpenAlex ID: W7133862768