What Juno anyway?!

Congratulations to all those involved in NASA's Juno mission!

After a five year voyage of 1.75 billion miles, their probe arrived into Jupiter's orbit this morning beginning a new chapter in our understanding of the gas giant and in turn solar system.

Watching the images of the swirling gas giant arrive over the coming months and years is going to be awe inspiring.

If anyone at NASA or ESA is reading, how about you start including faces in the designs of your probes. I'm having fun bringing a bit of character to the likes of Juno, Rose and Phile and New Horizons, but a bit of help from your end would make these little adventurers even more fun. :-) 

Akatsuki came back (it just couldn't stay away)

In 2010 the Akatsuki spacecraft launched with the intent of entering the orbit of Venus. It failed, pulling a 'Darth Vader', and spun off into space.

After a staggering recovery manoeuvre over a five year period and several orbits of the sun, the Japanese team managed a second attempt and Akatsuki is now safely orbiting at approximately 10,000 miles above Venus ready to begin its mission.



Well played JAXA! We're just taking this solar system conquering in our stride.