Preparing RIME for Jupiter’s icy moons

The lunar flyby provided a great opportunity to test out all of Juice’s ten science instruments on a solid surface in space for the first time. But it was crucial for RIME, as electronic noise within the rest of the spacecraft is unexpectedly disturbing the sensitive device.

During the flyby of the Moon, RIME was given eight minutes to observe totally alone, with other instruments either switched off or set to quiet mode.

This was the first chance during Juice’s journey to Jupiter for RIME scientists to check how the electronic noise affects the performance of their instrument. Based on the data collected, they have spent many months working on an algorithm to correct the issue. The beautiful new view indicates just how successful they have been.

RIME’s task at Jupiter is to peer below the icy surfaces of moons Europa, Ganymede and Callisto to map the invisible rocky layers below. Though our own Moon has no icy surface, the successful mapping of it by RIME demonstrates that the radar instrument is up to the job.