Juno spacecraft loses main computer

CAPE CANAVERAL: Nasa’s Juno spacecraft lost its main computer and science instruments shortly before it was due to make an orbital pass near Jupiter on Wednesday, scuttling highly anticipated close-up observations of the largest planet in the solar system.

The space agency said the glitch followed an unrelated problem last week that prompted it to skip firing Juno’s braking engine to steer the probe into a tighter regular orbit around Jupiter.

Juno’s computer restarted after Wednesday’s shutdown and the spacecraft was “healthy”, Nasa said.

Juno reached Jupiter in July for a 20-month study to learn how and where the giant gas planet formed, setting the stage for the evolution and development of Earth and the rest of the planets. During Wednesday’s flyby, scientists had planned to begin using Juno’s instruments to peer beneath Jupiter’s thick clouds and map its gargantuan magnetic fields. But the loss of the ship’s main computer, 13 hours before the close encounter, put the observation plans on hold until at least December 11, when the spacecraft makes its next close pass by Jupiter.