NASA Jupiter Probe Suffers Glitch After Earth Flyby

The Juno spacecraft, NASA's New Frontiers mission to Jupiter encountered a glitch after an Earth flyby, according to the Associated Press.

The Jupiter-bound spacecraft hit a snag Wednesday, moments after it used the Earth's gravity to accelerate itself toward the outer solar system, according to the mission managers. Despite this glitch, the spacecraft is on course to arrive at the giant planet in 2016.

During its swing past Earth, the spacecraft captured pictures. As planned, the spacecraft slipped into the Earth's shadow but the team was shocked to see the low amount of data it was beaming back.

The officials at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California claim that the spacecraft is in contact with Earth and is in a 'safe mode'. The spacecraft is transmitting a low amount of data. The moment a spacecraft encounters a problem, it is programmed to enter into a safe mode until the glitch is resolved.  At the moment a team of engineers are troubleshooting the hitch that occurred moments after the spacecraft used  Earth's gravity to gain speed.

What comes as good news for the team is that the glitch has not damaged the spacecraft's trajectory.

Launched on August 5, 2011 from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, the spacecraft is on a five- year mission to study Jupiter's composition, magnetic field, gravity and polar magnetosphere. During its cruise to Jupiter, the spacecraft will provide information about the great winds of the planet that touch the speed of 618 kilometers per hour. On October 9 it made a flyby within 347 miles of Earth. The spacecraft is expected to travel a distance of approximately 2.8 billion kilometers.

During this flyby, earthlings could spot something streaking across the sky with the help of binoculars and small telescope, and the mission members encouraged the space enthusiast to wave a 'Hi' in morse code that could be detected by Juno's radio.

Despite the U.S.shutdown NASA is continuing its operations as planned.