(Image source: NASA)

BY STEVEN SPARKMAN

NASA has launched a mission to study the second-biggest thing in our solar system -- the planet Jupiter.

GEORGE DILLER: “...and liftoff of the Atlas V with Juno on a trek to Jupiter.”
ANCHOR: “That’s the Mission Juno satellite blasting off for its five-year trip. … These are the three lucky passengers on board. They represent the scientist Galileo, the Roman god Jupiter and his wife Juno -- part of an initiative between Lego and NASA to inspire kids to learn about space.” (Video source: HLN)

Galileo famously pointed his telescope at Jupiter and saw its four largest moons. Of course, the mission is more than a ride for Lego figures.

Scientists believe Jupiter was the first planet to form around our sun. Studying it will clue them in on the earliest conditions of the gas cloud the entire solar system is made of. (Video source: NASA)

ANNOUNCER: “Equipped with unique sensors, Juno will looker deeper into the planet’s structure than ever before to find out the answers to basic questions about Jupiter’s makeup and how it formed.”
SCOTT BOLTON: “Juno’s looking for how Jupiter formed, and really how planets are made in general. We’re very much looking for the recipe for planets.” (Video source: NASA)

Some of the specific questions NASA hopes to answer with the probe -- does Jupiter have a rocky core or is it gaseous all the way down? What’s causing it’s incredibly powerful magnetic field?

A writer for Space.com explains a few other details Juno will uncover.

“...the spacecraft will measure the amount of water in Jupiter's atmosphere. A super-wet Jupiter might suggest that the planet formed farther out in the solar system, then migrated into its present position. … And the probe will get a great look at Jupiter's auroras -- phenomena that are also common to Earth, where they are known as the northern and southern lights.”

The probe will be the farthest ever to run on solar power, and the second ever to orbit Jupiter. But Jupiter is a dangerous place -- its powerful magnetic field means it has a cloud of radiation ready to fry electronics. So the Guardian says -- Juno’s going in armored.

“The electronics aboard Juno are encased in a titanium vault designed to protect components from high levels of radiation, but even with this shielding, the spacecraft is expected to sustain serious damage after a year in Jupiter's orbit.”

So Juno is setting off on a suicide mission. But some of Jupiter’s moons are candidates for life, so NASA isn’t willing to let Juno slam into any of them and spread microbes from Earth. So a writer for Dvice explains -- Juno’s going out in a blaze of glory.

“Before radiation completely fries the probe, it'll be sent on one final screaming death dive … into Jupiter's atmosphere, and in the process, those three [Lego] minifigs will briefly become the fastest moving and most distant toys in the entire universe as we know it.”

Newsy's iPhone, iPad, and Android apps are updated regularly. Please check your app store to ensure you're using the latest Newsy app!