NASA’s Juno spacecraft is scheduled to begin its solar-powered journey to Jupiter tomorrow, August 5th. The spacecraft is equipped with three 34-foot-long solar arrays and more than 18,000 solar cells, which will be the sole source of energy for Juno’s five-year trip to Jupiter. Juno is set to become the most distant probe ever powered by the sun, as no spacecraft has ever ventured so far using only solar energy. Solar technology was ultimately the best option for Juno’s scientific needs, but it helps that the choice is environmentally friendly. “We’re happy to be green,” said Scott Bolton of the Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio, Tex. “Of course, we were green before it was in to be green.” Congratulations, NASA!

We will continue to keep everyone updated with Juno’s progress. Check out this link for more information:

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/juno/launch/Juno_launchpreview.html