Article Posted on : - Jul 11, 2011

WASHINGTON (BNS): NASA's Juno spacecraft is in the final preparation stages for its mission to Jupiter, according to reports.

The spacecraft is currently at the Astrotech processing facility in Titusville, Florida.

The spacecraft has completed hydrazine fuel loading, oxidizer loading and final tank pressurisations and now the complete propulsion system is ready for the trip to Jupiter.

Hydrazine is the fuel of choice for most spacecraft because of its stored energy. When the fuel is mixed with the oxidizer, the liquid ignites in the propulsion system's main engine to perform the spacecraft's four large maneuvers. One of these maneuvers includes inserting the spacecraft into orbit around Jupiter in 2016.

The spacecraft will be installed onto the Atlas 551 launch vehicle on the first week on August 2011.

Juno will give an overall analysis of the planet details regarding the presence of water, its formation theory, magnetic and gravity fields. It will also look deep into Jupiter’s atmosphere to measure composition, temperature, cloud motions and other properties.