ESA Chooses Instruments For Its Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer

The JUpiter ICy moons Explorer mission, JUICE, will carry a total of 11 scientific experiments to study the gas giant planet and its large ocean-bearing moons, ESA announced today.

JUICE is the first Large-class mission in ESA’s Cosmic Vision 2015–2025 programme. Planned for launch in 2022 and arrival at Jupiter in 2030, it will spend at least three years making detailed observations of the biggest planet in the Solar System and three of its largest moons, Ganymede, Callisto and Europa.

These moons are thought to harbour vast water oceans beneath their icy surfaces and JUICE will map their surfaces, sound their interiors and assess their potential for hosting life in their oceans.

Full Story: http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Science/ESA_chooses_instruments_for_its_Jupiter_icy_moons_explorer
Also: http://www.bis.gov.uk/ukspaceagency/news-and-events/2013/Feb/uk-led-instrument-selected-for-europes-jupiter-mission
Also: http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2013/feb/HQ_13-060_JUICE_Instruments.html
Also: http://www.swri.org/9what/releases/2013/juice.htm