NASA’s Juno spacecraft is set to launch toward Jupiter aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket on Aug. 5. The launch window extends from 11:34 a.m. to 12:33 p.m. EDT, and the launch period extends through Aug. 26. The spacecraft is expected to arrive at Jupiter in 2016, on a mission to investigate the gas giant’s origins, structure, atmosphere and magnetosphere. Juno’s color camera will provide close-up images of Jupiter, including the first detailed views of the planets’ poles.
- Wednesday, Aug. 3 – NASA will hold a prelaunch news conference at Kennedy Space Center, Fla., at 1 p.m. EDT. NASA Television’s Media and Education Channels will carry the conference live. http://www.nasa.gov/ntv
- Thursday, Aug. 4 – A prelaunch webcast will be streamed at noon EDT. http://www.nasa.gov/juno
- Friday, Aug. 5 – Live coverage on both NASA TV and the web will begin at 9 a.m. EDT. The coverage will feature live updates as countdown milestones occur, as well as streaming video clips highlighting launch preparations and liftoff. The NASA News Twitter feed will also be updated throughout the launch. http://www.twitter.com/nasa. A news conference will be held approximately 2.5 hours after the launch, and will be streamed live with a chat available at http://www.ustream.tv/nasajpl2.
For more information on the Juno mission, visit http://www.nasa.gov/juno.
