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At left is a false-color composite near-infrared image of Jupiter and its moon Io, taken July 20, 2006 by the Keck II telescope on Mauna Kea using adaptive optics (AO) to sharpen the image. (Xinhua/Reuters File Photo)
LOS ANGELES, July 4 (Xinhua) -- After a journey of almost five years, the Juno spacecraft entered Jupiter's orbit at about 8:53 p.m. PDT (0353 GMT) on Monday evening, the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) confirmed.
"Engine burn complete and orbit obtained. I'm ready to unlock all your secrets, Jupiter," Juno mission posted on Twitter.
The probe fired its main engine at around 8:18 p.m. PDT (0318 GMT) for Jupiter orbit insertion, or as they refer to it in the halls and offices of the Juno team, "JOI."
After the 35-minute burn of a 645-Newton Leros-1b main engine to slow down the spacecraft, Juno was captured by Jupiter's gravity and slipped into the desired orbit.
Soon after the burn was completed, the probe started to spin down from 5 to 2 Revolutions Per Minute (RPM) and turn back toward the sun so that the sun's rays could once again reach the 18,698 individual solar cells that give Juno energy.
"All rays on me. My solar panels now face the sun. I'm the farthest solar-powered spacecraft from Earth," Juno mission reported via its Twitter feed at about 9:44 p.m. PDT (0444 GMT).
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LOS ANGELES, July 3 (Xinhua) -- After a journey of more than five years, U.S. space agency NASA's Juno spaceship is set to reach its final destination Jupiter and begin its orbit around the largest planet in our solar system. Full story
