Europe’s Juice spacecraft lifts off to explore Jupiter’s moons

Onboard are 10 scientific instruments, which will investigate whether the gas giant’s three moons – Callisto, Europa and Ganymede – can support life in its oceans.

Ariane 5 rocket carrying Juice spacecraft lifting off from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana (ESA)

A European spacecraft is on its way to Jupiter in a mission to explore whether its ocean-bearing moons can support life.

The six-tonne probe, named Juice (Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer), blasted off on an Ariane 5 rocket on Friday at 1.14pm UK time from the European spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.