Science News
Jupiter-bound probe launches on five-year journey
Aug 5, 2011, 16:27 GMT
Washington - A Jupiter-bound space probe blasted off atop an Atlas V rocket from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida Friday, beginning a five-year trip to the solar system's largest planet.
The Juno spacecraft is expected to arrive in Jupiter's orbit by 2016 and then orbit the planet for one year.
Researchers hope the mission will provide clues about the formation of the solar system because Jupiter is believed to be the oldest planet orbiting the Sun.
Read more about Jupiter
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