Spanish participation in the JUICE space mission

A total of seven Spanish companies belonging to the Spanish Association of Defense, Security, Aeronautics and Space Technology Companies (TEDAE) are participating in the JUICE (JUpiter ICy moons Explorer) mission, the first European mission to Jupiter, whose objective is to travel to the moons frosts of the largest planet in the solar system and in which 1,600 million euros have been invested.

Specifically, Airbus Defense and Space designed and built the structure and thermal control of the satellite. For its part, Inventia Kinetics was in charge of supplying different ground support mechanical equipment for the integration and testing of the internal structure.

The DEIMOS company was responsible for the mission’s planetary protection analysis with Airbus Defense and Space and participated in a JUICE autonomous navigation system optimization project with Thales Alenia Space. DEIMOS’ main contribution was to ensure that the spacecraft would never collide with the planet Mars or the Jupiter moon Europa, classified as category V according to planetary protection regulations. This is the highest category of planetary protection for extraterrestrial bodies and is reserved for three bodies in the solar system that could potentially host life: Mars, Europa and Enceladus.

The second job consisted of improving the mission’s basic autonomous navigation strategy during the flyby of Europa and during the orbital phase around Ganymede. In both cases, specific computer tools were developed for these activities.

Alter Technology is responsible for the engineering, testing and validation of technologies and supply of more than 5,000 batches, for 80 equipment manufacturers of the 10 instruments on board the satellite, as well as the encapsulation, testing and qualification of an image sensor.

Artist’s impression of the JUICE space probe flying near Ganymede, with Jupiter in the background. (Illustration: ESA / ATG Medialab)

The GMV company designs and develops the mission control system (MCS), in charge of monitoring the spacecraft and the control functionality within the ground segment, and is responsible for maintaining the MCS and supporting it throughout the duration of the mission. . GMV has also contributed to the development and will operate different components of the flight mechanics system (FDS), a system that is responsible for determining and controlling the satellite’s orbit and attitude. GMV will contribute to the maintenance of the FDS during the duration of the mission.

For its part, Sener Aeroespacial y Defensa developed the deployable mast (boom) of the mission’s magnetometer, the medium-gain antenna subsystem (MGAMA) and components of the Janus scientific instruments, specifically the filter selection module (Filter Wheel). Module, FWM), and Gala, specifically, the power supply for the altimeter-, in addition to supplying ground support mechanical equipment.

The Airbus Crisa company is responsible for the JUICE Electric Power Subsystem (EPS), which is made up of the Power Conditioning and Distribution Unit (PCDU) and the satellite batteries, and for all activities related to the EPS, as well as the design and manufacture of the PCDU, while ABSL has been in charge of the design and manufacture of the batteries. It is a mission-critical subsystem.

The EPS design has faced unprecedented technical challenges, stemming from the harsh environment the spacecraft will experience as it explores Jupiter and its icy moons, some of which can potentially support life. So far, no ESA mission has traveled this far from the Sun, so optimizing the electrical efficiency of EPS has been critical to mission success.

Jupiter’s powerful magnetic field causes high-energy particles to circulate dangerously around it, making extraordinary protection measures necessary, both at the level of the EPS and the entire spacecraft. (Source: KREAB / TEDAE)