NASA has extended the missions of two key interplanetary spacecraft: the Juno orbiter at Jupiter and the InSight lander on Mars.
Launched on August 5, 2011, Juno entered orbit around Jupiter in 2016. Its primary goals include in-depth analysis of Jupiter's atmosphere—covering composition, temperature, cloud patterns, and other properties—and detailed study of its magnetosphere, particularly near the poles, to understand interactions between the magnetic field and atmosphere. Juno has also delivered stunning images of the gas giant.
Originally slated to conclude in 2018, the mission received its first extension about three years ago, targeting July 2021 with a planned deorbit into Jupiter. A recent review by NASA experts has approved another extension, affirming Juno's robust performance and potential for further discoveries in the Jovian system.
Now operational until at least 2025—pending spacecraft health—Juno will investigate Jupiter's rings and major moons, including Io, Ganymede, and Europa.
InSight, after traveling over 480 million kilometers, touched down on Mars in November 2018. Its core mission: detect subtle seismic waves to reveal the planet's internal structure.
By analyzing these marsquakes, scientists gain insights into Mars' composition—information preserved due to the absence of plate tectonics, unlike Earth. This could illuminate the formation processes of both planets.
InSight has exceeded expectations, revealing that marsquakes are weaker yet more frequent than models predicted. Seismic data has identified three subsurface layers: a thin duricrust, regolith, and a ~10 km altered layer atop a deeper consolidated crust.
NASA's review panel confirmed the mission's ongoing value, extending operations at least until December 2022.
