JIMO is a nuclear reactor-powered spacecraft. It will use a form of electric propulsion called ion propulsion, which will allow the spacecraft to orbit each moon, making thorough observation and mapping possible. The nuclear reactor will be positioned in the tip of the spacecraft behind a strong radiation shield protecting sensitive probe equipment. The scientific instrument suite will be on the opposite tip and electric thrusters in the middle along with a radiator.
The orbiter will have 100 times more usable onboard power from the nuclear reactor than any of the current interplanetary spacecraft. This will enable the science instruments to gather more and higher quality data and to send it back to Earth at much higher data rates.
