But the device exceeded all expectations; He continued his studies of Jupiter, its moons Ganymede, Europa and Io, and the planet’s ring system. NASA has repeatedly extended the Juno mission, most recently to September 30, 2025, but uncertainty about the mission’s future has been exacerbated by a U.S. government shutdown that has seen an inadequate budget for space research and development.
Juno reportedly made flybys of Ganymede, Europa, and Io and provided detailed data on Jupiter’s magnetic and gravitational fields. These results are critical for future missions, including the Europa Clipper, which is scheduled to arrive at Jupiter in 2030. Terminating the mission prematurely would leave significant gaps in data collection about Jupiter and its surroundings.
NASA officials have officially confirmed the mission’s extension to 2025, but the expert community doubts that the device is operational as the current status of the mission remains uncertain due to the suspension of federal funding. Under project closure rules, only “exceptional activities” are allowed to continue, and Juno’s mission does not fall into that category. Additionally, the mission was not included in the fiscal year 2026 budget, leaving its fate dependent on renewed funding.
In general, experts associated with NASA believe that the mission has already been closed, but since NASA representatives have repeatedly appealed to Congress about the inadmissibility of cutting funds for the agency, the agency is simply hiding the fact. But if they admit that they accept the curtailment of the Jovian mission, then they will formally recognize their surrender.
Source: Ferra
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