The European Space Agency’s JUICE mission to explore Jupiter’s icy, ocean-bearing moons will blasted off on Friday, a day after the first launch attempt was called off due to the threat of lightning.

The spacecraft was launched on an Ariane 5 rocket from Europe’s spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, at 12:14 GMT, 30 seconds earlier than Thursday’s aborted effort.

The uncrewed, six-tonne spacecraft will embark on an eight-year journey through the Solar System aiming to discover whether Jupiter’s moons are capable of hosting extraterrestrial life in the vast oceans hidden under their ice-covered shells.

Thursday’s launch was called off just minutes before the countdown was set to begin, disappointing those gathered in the Jupiter control room in Kourou, including Belgium’s King Philippe.

Source: AFP