This is the web home for SPICE data for JUICE. For information about the mission operations, go to the JUICE Science Operations web.

JUICE SPICE KERNELS SET

The ESA SPICE Service (ESS), in collaboration the JUICE SGS and the Instrument Teams, produces a SPICE Kernel Dataset (SKD) for the JUICE mission. A complete description including naming convention and an index of the contents of the JUICE SKD can be found in the description of the JUICE repository.

The JUICE SPICE Kernels dataset consists of several SPICE kernels, organised as follows:

The SKD has the following directory structure:

  • root directory (named after the mission: JUICE)
    • kernels
      • ck: Kernels that contain orientation for the spacecraft and some of its structures, (solar arrays, for instance).
      • fk: Kernels that define reference frames needed for the Mission.
      • ik: Kernels for the instruments on board the spacecraft.
      • lsk: Leapseconds kernel.
      • mk: Meta-kernel files (a.k.a "furnsh" files) that provide lists of kernels suitable for a given mission period in the appropiate order.
      • pck: Kernels that define planetary constants.
      • sclk: Spacecraft clock coefficients kernels.
      • spk: Orbit kernels, for the spacecraft and other solar system bodies.
      • dsk: Digital Shape kernels for extended bodies such as the JUICE spacecraft
    • misc
      • release notes: Includes the Release Notes of the SKD.
      • cosmo: The SPICE-enchanced configuration for the JUICE mission.
      • other: different directories of interest.

OBTAINING THE KERNELS

The complete JUICE SPICE Kernel Dataset can be obtained from the ESA SPICE Service HTTPs or the ESA SPICE Service FTP. 

In order to obtain the latest operational kernels we recommend you to download the kernels listed in the metakernel. JUICE has a different flavour of metakernels that are described below.

The latest version of the SKD's operational sub-set -including only the latest kernels listed on the metakernel- can be obtained either via:

The latest operational metakernels of JUICE are the following:

Name Overview Metakernel
PLAN

Contains the latest available planning kernels generated by the operational pipeline based on Flight Dynamics inputs, these kernels are used for science operations planning purposes. It also includes the CReMA 5.1 150lb23.1 kernels with lower priority.

 plan
OPS Contains the latest available operational kernels generated by the operational pipeline based on Housekeeping Telemetry input, these kernels are used for data analysis. ops

 

The latest metakernel each study trajectory of JUICE are the following:

CReMA Overview Main Update Metakernel
5.1 150lb23.1 A3 Baseline trajectory (150lb), Option A3 from LEGA to end of Jupiter Tour (excluding Ganymede phase)
  • Higher inclination (33.1° to 35.4°), higher resolution for Jupiter N/S high latitudes
  • Improved high resolution and global coverage of Callisto.
  • 150 days out of superior conjunction (instead of 136) during Ganymede orbit at 5000 km
  • 136 days out of superior conjunction (instead of 100) during Ganymede orbit at 500 km.
 5_1_150lb_23_1_a3
5.1 150lb23.1 B2 Baseline trajectory (150lb), Option B2 from LEGA to end of Jupiter Tour (excluding Ganymede phase)
  • Higher inclination (33.1° to 38.0°), 100 days more over 25° inclination, better resolution than A3 for Jupiter N/S high latitudes
  • Improved high resolution and global coverage of Callisto.
  • 150 days out of superior conjunction (instead of 136) during Ganymede orbit at 5000 km
  • 143 days out of superior conjunction (instead of 100) during Ganymede orbit at 500 km. 
 5_1_150lb_23_1_b2
5.1 150lb23.1 Baseline trajectory (150lb), launch on April 5th 2023 (excluding NECP)

  • Trajectory and default attitude kernels for the cruise and nominal science phase (excluding NECP) for a baseline launch in April 2023.

  • The baseline trajectory is also refered to as case 150lb, as per JUI-ESOC-MOC-RP-001_i5.1 (CreMA issue 5.1).

 5_1_150lb_23_1
5.1 150la Backup trajectory (150la), from launch on August 23rd 2023 (excluding NECP) until 2G2.
  • Trajectory and default attitude kernels for the cruise phase (excluding NECP) for a backup launch in August 2023.
  • The backup set covers the ITP with the consolidated lift-off time and injection state vector. The file stops at 2G2.
  • The backup trajectory is also refered to as case 150la, as per JUI-ESOC-MOC-RP-001_i5.1 (CreMA issue 5.1).
 5_1_150la
5.0b23.1 Baseline trajectory (150lb),  launch on  April 5th , 2023  based on mission analysis eom file: JUICE_CReMA5d0_Baseline_0002.oem. This file provides an end-to-end coverage of the mission but does not include the latest exchanges with ArianeSpace and ArianeGroup. It should be used only for the nominal science phase, not for the Interplanetary Transfer
  • Trajectory and default SC attitude for the interplanetary cruise phase and nominal science phase.
 5_0b23_1
5.0 Backup trajectory (150la), launch on  August 26th, 2022, based on mission analysis eom file: JUICE_CReMA5d0_Baseline_0001.oem. This file provides an end-to-end coverage of the mission but does not include the latest exchanges with ArianeSpace and ArianeGroup. It should be used only for the nominal science phase, not for the Interplanetary Transfer
  • Trajectory and default SC attitude for the interplanetary cruise phase and nominal science phase.

5_0
4.2b22.1 (cruise only) New Baseline launch September 2022
  • Trajectory and default SC attitude for the interplanetary cruise phase.
 4_2b22_1_cruise
4.2b22.1 Backup launch 2022 (150l0la) obsolete for Ganymede Phase
  • Europa southern flyby shielding improved.
  • Max Tour inclination: 33 deg.
  • Increased number of Callisto FBs.
  • GEO beta angle starts at 45 deg.
 4_2b22_1
4.2 Baseline launch (141a) 
  • Tour phase is the same as 3.2.
  • Ganymede phase implementation pending choice of GCO option.
  • See next three rows.
 4_2
4.2 N56 Pp5 Q19 Baseline launch (141a) 
  • GCO study option N56 Pp5 Q19.
  • Theoretical altitude is 490.7 km. The observed mean altitude is 487.5 km.
 4_2_N56_Pp5_Q19
4.2 N56 Pn5 Q19 Baseline launch (141a) 
  • GCO study option N56 Pn5 Q19.
  • Altitude around 510 km.
 4_2_N56_Pn5_Q19
4.2 N54 Pp5 Q19 Baseline launch (141a) 
  • GCO study option N54 Pp5 Q19.
  • Theoretical altitude is 567.0 km. The observed mean altitude is 564.0 km.
 4_2_N54_Pp5_Q19
4.0b Backup launch (230la)
  • Swap of Europa and Jupiter high latitudes phases.
 4_0b
3_2 gan N56 Pp5 Q19 Baseline launch (141a) 
  • Compared to the 3.2 version, the Ganymede phase is patched by the GCO option choice made by the SWT.
  • Altitude around 490 km.
  • This is a temporary kernel set - until a consolidated full trajectory is available.
 3_2_gan_N56_Pp5_Q19
3.2 Baseline launch (141a)
  • Decrease radiation dose and eclipses.
  • Europa FBs radio source shielding and illumination adjustment.
  • 29 deg max Tour inclination.
 3_2
3.1 Baseline launch (141a)
  • Ganymede retrograde orbit.
  • Europa flyby ingress/egress illumination.
  • 28 deg max Tour inclination.
 3_1
3.0 Baseline launch (141a)
  • Baseline for the industrial contract.
  • Ganymede prograde orbit.
 3_0
3.0 Baseline launch (141a)
  • Attitude planned during 21C13 exercise.
 21C13 (CK)

 

The Release notes of the latest version of the JUICE kernel collection can be seen here. 

ORIGIN OF THE KERNELS

GENERIC KERNELS PROVIDED BY NAIF

NAIF generates kernels that are mission independent. Some of them are used by ESA missions:

  • Binary and text PCK and LSK kernels.
  • Some SPK kernels with ephemeris of the solar system bodies.
  • SPK kernels for ground stations.
  • Frames kernels for ground stations.

KERNELS CREATED BY ESA SPICE SERVICE AND JUICE SGS

The ESA SPICE Team collaborates with ODC Space and the Instrument Teams to create instrument and frames kernels for JUICE:

  • Preliminary SPK kernels with trajectory of JUICE created by Mission Analysis.
  • Preliminary CK kernels with orientation of JUICE created by ESA SPICE Service.
  • RSSD frames kernel.
  • The instrument kernels (IK) have been developed by ESA SPICE Service and the Instrument Teams.
  • The JUICE frames kernel has been created by the ESA SPICE Service.

WEBGEOCALC

The WebGeocalc tool (WGC) provides a web-based graphical user interface to many of the observation geometry computations available from the SPICE system. A WGC user can perform SPICE computations without the need to write a program; the user need have only a computer with a standard web browse. 

Access to the WebGeocalc here.

For more information on WeGeoCalc go to the NAIF WebGeocalc description.

STAYING TUNED

If you want to receive updates and notifications for SPICE for JUICE you might join the SPICE_JUICE mailing list here.

Notifications from the ESA SPICE Service can also be obtained via twitter.

You can also join the #SPICE channel in the OpenPlanetary Group in Slack. You can access using this link. And you can register for the Group here.