"Juno Spacecraft Set for Intimate Dec. 30 Encounter with Jupiter's Fiery Moon Io"

NASA's Juno spacecraft is set to make a historic close flyby of Jupiter's volcanic moon Io on December 30, the closest approach in over two decades, at a distance of about 930 miles from the surface. The flyby aims to collect extensive data on Io's volcanic activity, including eruption patterns and thermal emissions, to understand the moon's geologic and volcanic dynamics. Juno's instruments, including the JIRAM and JunoCam, will be active during the flyby despite challenges from radiation damage. A second close approach is planned for February 3, 2024, and the mission will also include additional distant flybys of Io, altering Juno's orbit and extending its mission through late 2025 with further scientific experiments.