[AZ-Observing] Historic Galileo Mission Nears End
- From: "EVAC_Prez" <evac_prez@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: "AZ-Observing" <az-observing@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>,"EVAC listserver" <EVAC@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 14 Sep 2003 20:10:11 -0700
Following eight years of capturing dramatic images and surprising science from
Jupiter and its moons, NASA's Galileo mission draws to a close September 21
with a plunge into Jupiter's atmosphere.
Launched by the Space Shuttle Atlantis in 1989, the mission produced a string
of discoveries while circling Jupiter, the solar system's largest planet, 34
times. Galileo was the first spacecraft to directly measure Jupiter's
atmosphere with a probe and the first to conduct long-term observations of the
Jovian system from orbit.
Galileo found evidence of subsurface liquid layers of salt water on Jupiter's
moons Europa, Ganymede and Callisto, and it detected extraordinary levels of
volcanic activity on Io. Galileo was the first spacecraft to fly by an asteroid
and the first to discover the moon of an asteroid. Galileo's prime mission
ended six years ago after two years orbiting Jupiter. NASA extended the mission
three times to take advantage of Galileo's unique science capabilities.
The spacecraft was put on a collision course with Jupiter's atmosphere to
eliminate any chance of impact of the moon Europa, which Galileo discovered is
likely to have a subsurface ocean. The team expects the spacecraft to transmit
a few hours of science measurements in real time, leading up to impact on
Sunday, September 21. The maneuver is necessary, since onboard propellant is
nearly depleted. Without propellant, the spacecraft would not be able to point
its antenna toward Earth nor adjust its flight path, so controlling the
spacecraft would no longer be possible.
NASA has scheduled a Space Science Update (SSU) at 2 p.m. EDT, Wed., Sept. 17,
in the James E. Webb Auditorium at NASA headquarters, 300 E St. S.W.,
Washington. Panelists will discuss the historic mission, engineering
challenges, science highlights and plans for Galileo's impact with Jupiter's
atmosphere.
The SSU will be carried live on NASA Television.
The Sept. 17 SSU and Sept. 21 end of mission event will be Web cast live at:
http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/webcast/galileo/
Additional information about the mission and Galileo's discoveries is available
at:
http://galileo.jpl.nasa.gov
Keep looking up,
Peter Argenziano
President
East Valley Astronomy Club
www.eastvalleyastronomy.org
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