ESA points monitoring cameras at the Moon to capture raw, unprocessed space imagery
The European Space Agency is sharing raw, unprocessed images from the Juice spacecraft's lunar flyby. Originally designed to monitor the deployment of solar panels and antennas after its April 2023 launch, these cameras are now being repurposed to capture the Moon, offering a unique, unrefined look at space.
Juice launched in April 2023, carrying two monitoring cameras intended to verify the successful unfolding of its antennas, booms, and solar panels. With that primary mission complete, the team decided to test the cameras by pointing them at the Moon during a flyby.
Because these images are being shared publicly before any processing, the team does not know exactly how they will appear. This experiment marks the first time the monitoring cameras have been directed at a large, bright celestial object, providing a rare opportunity to see raw data directly from the spacecraft.
