Galileo to Burn in Jupiter's Atmosphere

NASANews@hq.nasa.gov
Extracts from RELEASE: 01-41

The resilient Galileo spacecraft doesn't know when it call it quits. So, NASA has outlined the details of one last mission extension, which includes five more flybys of the Jovian moons before a final plunge into the crushing pressure of the giant planet's atmosphere.

On May 25, Galileo should pass about 123 kilometers (76 miles) above the moon Callisto, the second largest of Jupiter's 28 known moons. The effects of Callisto's gravity will set up the space probe for a swing over both polar regions of the intensely volcanic moon Io in August and October.

In 2002, having completed its imaging mission, Galileo will continue studies of Jupiter's massive magnetic field with seven instruments. In January, the orbiter will fly near the equator of Io.

In November, it will swing closer to Jupiter than ever before, dipping within about 500 kilometers (about 300 miles) of the moon Amalthea, which is less than one-tenth the size of Io and less than half as far from Jupiter. Scientists will use Galileo measurements to determine the mass and density of Amalthea. They will also study dust particles as Galileo flies through Jupiter's gossamer rings and seek new details of the magnetic forces and the densities of charged particles close to the planet.

Galileo's final orbit will take an elongated loop away from Jupiter. Then in August 2003, the spacecraft will head back for a direct impact and burn up as it plows into Jupiter's 60,000 kilometer-thick atmosphere.

NASA News