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Galileo - Mission to Jupiter
Mission description
Launch
Galileo was launched on October 18, 1989
onboard the space shuttle Atlantis. After a 6-year journey through
interplanetary space it reached Jupiter on December 7, 1995. Galileo's
primary mission ended in December 1997 and was extented until December
1999 under the name Galileo Europa Mission
(GEM). Since then to the end in September 2003 the mission was called Galileo
Millenium Mission.
Cruise
The spacecraft was not directly sent to Jupiter. Three gravity assist
maneuvers, one at Venus and two at Earth were used to boost Galileo
towards the giant planet.
Galileo planetary flybys
| Venus |
flyby |
2/10/1990 |
@ |
16000 |
km |
distance |
| Earth-1 |
flyby |
10/8/1991 |
@ |
960 |
km |
distance |
| Earth-2 |
flyby |
12/8/1992 |
@ |
305 |
km |
distance |
Galileo asteroid flybys
In addition to the planetary flybys Galileo also encountered two asteriods
(Gaspra and Ida) inside the main asteroid belt during cruise.
| Gaspra |
flyby |
29/10/1991 |
@ |
1600 |
km |
distance |
| Ida |
flyby |
28/8/1993 |
@ |
2400 |
km |
distance |
Probe mission
In July 1995 the Galileo probe was detached from the orbiter and began
its own journey towards Jupiter. It plunged into the atmosphere of
Jupiter on Dec 7, 1995, exactly at the same time when the orbiter
passed above the entry site.
The MPS is involved in one of the instruments: the lightning
detector
LRD
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Arrival at Jupiter
On Dec 7, 1995 Galileo was inserted into the Jovian system.
A list of a the orbits, the trajectories may be found at
http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/galileo/countdown
Mission timeline
The mission was originally planned for 2 years (1995-1997). After the
performance of the Galileo Orbiter has far exceeded any prior
expectations the projects was extended for another 2 years under the
name Galileo Europa Mission GEM
(1997-1999), dedicated to additional flybys at the moon Europa. Since
then until 2003 the mission was called Galileo Millenium
Mission. The mission officially was ended in September
2003.
Galileo amazing facts
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