Now past the halfway mark in its mission at the giant of our solar system, NASA\u2019s Juno spacecraft continues to return tantalizing information about the planet Jupiter, including the up-close study of wave trains in the planet\u2019s atmosphere and solving a 39 year old mystery surrounding lightning in the planet\u2019s atmosphere.\n<\/p>\n
Halfway there:<\/b><\/p>\n
Officially passing the halfway mark in its mission on 21 December 2018, NASA\u2019s Juno spacecraft dove to within 5,053 km (3,140 miles) of Jupiter\u2019s clouds on the craft\u2019s 17th perijove (moment of closest orbital approach to Jupiter).<\/p>\n
The December 2019 perijove marked Juno\u2019s 16th science gathering dive and completed the task of obtaining global coverage of Jupiter.<\/p>\n
The long-delayed halfway point came after NASA extended Juno science operations in the middle of 2018 \u2013 an extension which now allows the craft to complete its originally planned mission.<\/p>\n
After entering a preliminary 53-day orbit of Jupiter on 4 July 2016, Juno was to reduce its orbital period to a 14-day primary science orbit.<\/p>\n
However, just days before this was to happen, NASA noted an anomalous reading on helium valves on Juno\u2019s main engine, valves similar to the ones used on the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency\u2019s Akatsuki spacecraft\u2019s main engine that malfunctioned in December 2010.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n