TORONTO, July 4, 2016 – NASA’s Juno spacecraft, launched in August 2011, is scheduled to enter Jupiter’s orbit in an historic moment today at about 5pm, Eastern Time.

Astronomers suspect that Jupiter, due to its large size, shaped the formation of our solar system; however, the finer details about what the planet is made of and how it came to be, remain elusive. The purpose of the Juno mission is to understand the origin and evolution of Jupiter, ultimately leading to a better understanding of the beginnings of our solar system and other exoplanetary solar systems too.

The insertion of Juno into the gas giant’s orbit depends on the successful burn of its rocket motor. If successful, Juno will collect information about Jupiter’s atmosphere and magnetic and gravity fields.

Professor Paul Delaney in the Faculty of Science is available for media interviews to discuss Juno’s orbital insertion and overall mission.

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Media Contact: Gloria Suhasini, York University Media Relations, 416 736 2100 ext. 22094; or 647 463 4354, suhasini@yorku.ca