[physics.space-ph] The JUpiter ICy moons Explorer (JUICE) mission, launched by the European Space Agency (ESA) in April 2023, represents one of the most ambitious deep space exploration endeavours targeting Jupiter’s icy moons.
This paper presents results from the Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) radio telescope tracking conducted by the University of Tasmania during the first two years of JUICE’s cruise phase operations. We have conducted over 100 tracking sessions capturing the spacecraft across different orbital regimes as JUICE progresses through its complex cruise trajectory towards Jupiter.
Our analysis focuses on three key areas: Doppler residual characterisation, mission performance indicator extraction, and solar wind scintillation pattern analysis (including space weather forecasting). UTAS measurements demonstrate the enhanced capabilities that VLBI networks provide for deep space mission support, particularly for precision orbit determination and spacecraft health diagnosis.
The results showcase the UTAS VLBI array as a valuable complement to traditional tracking infrastructure, offering Southern Hemisphere coverage and enhanced geometric diversity for deep space missions.
Oliver James White, Guifre Molera Calves, Jasper Edwards, Giuseppe Cimo, Dominic Dirkx (on behalf of the PRIDE team)
Comments: 12 pages, 9 figures, 2 tables, Proceedings from 24th Australian Space Research Conference. this https URL
Subjects: Space Physics (physics.space-ph); Earth and Planetary Astrophysics (astro-ph.EP); Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics (astro-ph.IM); Solar and Stellar Astrophysics (astro-ph.SR)
Cite as: arXiv:2607.00414 [physics.space-ph] (or arXiv:2607.00414v1 [physics.space-ph] for this version)
https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2607.00414
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Journal reference: Proceedings from 24th Australian Space Research Conference, 2026, 145-156
Submission history
From: Oliver White
[v1] Wed, 1 Jul 2026 04:16:03 UTC (1,301 KB)
https://arxiv.org/abs/2607.00414
Astrobiology,
