HOW FAST CAN JUNO GO?
When arriving at Jupiter, the planet’s gravity pulls in Juno faster and faster until the spacecraft reaches
a speed of over 250,000 kilometers per hour (150,000 miles per hour) with respect to Earth – making it one
of the fastest human-made objects ever. When it arrives at Jupiter, it slams on the brakes, firing its main
engine in reverse. After slowing down, Juno can then enter Jupiter orbit.
Juno will cover 2.8 billion kilometers (nearly 1.8 billion miles) during its long, looping voyage. That’s 19 times
farther than the distance between Earth and the Sun, and 15 times farther than the closest distance
between Earth and Jupiter. If Juno were to fly at the speed of a commercial jet, it would take 342 years
to complete its journey!