As reported by Ukrinform, this ESA twitter.

“Ariane 5 is launching on the JUICE mission on April 14, 2023. Target: Jupiter,” the Agency said.

Space.com states that the launch of the Ariane 5 launch vehicle from Arianespace took place at 14:15 Kiev time from the spaceport in French Guiana.

The JUICE (Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer) spacecraft will arrive at Jupiter in July 2031 and spend the next three and a half years orbiting the planet, making close flights to three of the four main moons (Europa, Ganymede and Callisto).

As NASA’s Europa Clipper, due to launch next year, will be studying Europa in detail by then, so JUICE will make only two close passes of this potentially vital moon and focus most of its time on Ganymede and Callisto.

In December 2034, the JUICE spacecraft will attempt an orbital change, moving from Jupiter to Ganymede, the planet’s largest natural moon and also the largest moon in the Solar System.

Thus, JUICE will be the first spacecraft in history to orbit a satellite other than the Earth’s moon.

As reported by Ukrinform, Japanese space company Ispace Inc. He said on Wednesday the lander could land on the moon as early as April 26, making it the world’s first private company to reach Earth’s moon.

Photo: “ESA”