Following the successful launch of an Ariane 5 rocket from Europe’s Dry Space Port on April 14, the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (Juice) is this image showing the rotation of the Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer’s solar arrays as they are deployed. captured the double image.

The images were captured by the Juice 1 Observation Camera (JMC1), located in front of the spacecraft, looking diagonally up, with antennas deployed at the end and, depending on their orientation, part of one of the sun’s rays. Due to the camera’s sharp viewing angle, only part of the array, in this case part of the characteristic cruciform pattern of one of the solar panels, is visible.

The first image was taken at 15:28 CEST during the deployment of the solar array. The second image was taken at 15:32 CET and shows the panels rotating 70 degrees just seconds before the deployment sequence is confirmed to be complete.

The lighting conditions in this scene are difficult because the side of the sequence causes a bright reflection.

Each of the two “wings” consists of five panels measuring 2.5×3.5 m, with a total area of ​​85 square meters. In total, they span 27 meters from end to end and are critical in providing the power needed to launch spacecraft and operate science instruments as we explore the Jupiter system, where sunlight is 25 times weaker than on Earth. Their deployment, which was completed at 3:33 PM CEST, was critical to the success of the mission.