Galileo Interplanetary Orbital Elements
Earth Injection 19-Oct-1989
Venus Close Approach 10-Feb-1990
Earth 1 Close Approach 08-Dec-1990
Gaspra Close Approach 29-Oct-1991 (Asteroid)
Earth 2 Close Approach 08-Dec-1992
Ida Close Approach 28-Aug-1993 (Asteroid)
Approach to Jupiter 13-Sep-1995
The orbital elements given below are Keplerian (semi-major axis,
eccentricity, inclination, node angle, argument of periapsis, and mean
anomaly). The reference frame is Earth ecliptic and equinox of J2000.
The central body for each set of elements and the valid time period
for those elements are indicated.
Times are given in both Julian date format in ephemeris time (ET) and calendar date format in Greenwich mean time (GMT). For the general exposure that these elements will receive, GMT has been used and is understood to be the same as universal time (UTC). To clarify any ambiguity between these two time formats, the delta-time (ET minus UTC) and the epoch of each value of delta-time are:
56.184 seconds 01 January 1988
57.184 seconds 01 January 1990
58.184 seconds 01 January 1991
59.184 seconds 01 July 1992
60.184 seconds 01 July 1993
61.184 seconds 01 July 1994
The set of Sun-centered elements comprise a complete set of elements
for general use. The body-centered elements at close approach are
included for completeness and are valid only for those times.
The next events for the Galileo spacecraft were separation of the Probe and the Orbiter's tour of the Galilean satellites. Elements for these portions of the trajectory can be found in the Probe Elements and Tour Elements. Elements for the Galileo Europa Mission (GEM), an extended mission ending in the year 2000, can be found in GEM Elements.
EARTH-CENTERED INJECTION STATE:
Epoch of Orbital Elements: J.D. = 2447818.56219 ET (89/10/19 01:28:37 GMT)
Classical Orbital Elements
Earth centered, Earth ecliptic and equinox of J2000
Semi-major Axis -25844.8 km
Eccentricity 1.263746
Inclination 54.846 degree
Node Angle 157.882 degree
Arg of Periapsis -1.114 degree
Mean Anomaly 36.363 degree
EARTH INJECTION TO VENUS:
Orbital Elements valid from J.D. = 2447818.56219 ET (89/10/19 01:28:37 GMT)
to J.D. = 2447932.74983 ET (90/02/10 05:58:48 GMT)
Epoch of Orbital Elements: J.D. = 2447818.56219 ET (89/10/19 01:28:37 GMT)
Classical Orbital Elements
Sun centered, Earth ecliptic and equinox of J2000
Semi-major Axis 124490130.4 km
Eccentricity .197725
Inclination 4.283 degree
Node Angle 25.655 degree
Arg of Periapsis -175.431 degree
Mean Anomaly 173.504 degree
VENUS CLOSE APPROACH STATE:
Epoch of Orbital Elements: J.D. = 2447932.74983 ET (90/02/10 05:58:48 GMT)
Classical Orbital Elements
Venus centered, Earth ecliptic and equinox of J2000
Semi-major Axis -8555.3 km
Eccentricity 3.591986
Inclination 134.875 degree
Node Angle -69.903 degree
Arg of Periapsis -109.079 degree
Mean Anomaly -.000 degree
VENUS TO EARTH 1:
Orbital Elements valid from J.D. = 2447932.74983 ET (90/02/10 05:58:48 GMT)
to J.D. = 2448234.35801 ET (90/12/08 20:34:35 GMT)
Epoch of Orbital Elements: J.D. = 2447932.74983 ET (90/02/10 05:58:48 GMT)
Classical Orbital Elements
Sun centered, Earth ecliptic and equinox of J2000
Semi-major Axis 147910815.0 km
Eccentricity .292120
Inclination 3.385 degree
Node Angle 76.569 degree
Arg of Periapsis 106.326 degree
Mean Anomaly -14.890 degree
EARTH 1 CLOSE APPROACH STATE:
Epoch of Orbital Elements: J.D. = 2448234.35801 ET (90/12/08 20:34:35 GMT)
Classical Orbital Elements
Earth centered, Earth ecliptic and equinox of J2000
Semi-major Axis -4977.0 km
Eccentricity 2.473607
Inclination 142.165 degree
Node Angle 72.482 degree
Arg of Periapsis 95.873 degree
Mean Anomaly .042 degree
EARTH 1 TO GASPRA:
Orbital Elements valid from J.D. = 2448234.35801 ET (90/12/08 20:34:35 GMT)
to J.D. = 2448559.44287 ET (91/10/29 22:36:46 GMT)
Epoch of Orbital Elements: J.D. = 2448234.35801 ET (90/12/08 20:34:35 GMT)
Classical Orbital Elements
Sun centered, Earth ecliptic and equinox of J2000
Semi-major Axis 237519961.4 km
Eccentricity .430058
Inclination 4.547 degree
Node Angle -103.340 degree
Arg of Periapsis -136.898 degree
Mean Anomaly -16.448 degree
GASPRA CLOSE APPROACH STATE:
Epoch of Orbital Elements: J.D. = 2448559.44287 ET (91/10/29 22:36:46 GMT)
Classical Orbital Elements
Gaspra centered, Earth ecliptic and equinox of J2000
Semi-major Axis -.16E-07 km
Eccentricity 102175649057.261
Inclination 176.373 degree
Node Angle 58.356 degree
Arg of Periapsis 78.541 degree
Mean Anomaly -21256028.361 degree
GASPRA TO EARTH 2:
Orbital Elements valid from J.D. = 2448559.44287 ET (91/10/29 22:36:46 GMT)
to J.D. = 2448965.13222 ET (92/12/08 15:09:25 GMT)
Epoch of Orbital Elements: J.D. = 2448559.44287 ET (91/10/29 22:36:46 GMT)
Classical Orbital Elements
Sun centered, Earth ecliptic and equinox of J2000
Semi-major Axis 237560486.9 km
Eccentricity .429471
Inclination 4.584 degree
Node Angle -103.103 degree
Arg of Periapsis -137.181 degree
Mean Anomaly 143.846 degree
EARTH 2 CLOSE APPROACH STATE:
Epoch of Orbital Elements: J.D. = 2448965.13222 ET (92/12/08 15:09:25 GMT)
Classical Orbital Elements
Earth centered, Earth ecliptic and equinox of J2000
Semi-major Axis -5057.8 km
Eccentricity 2.319675
Inclination 161.128 degree
Node Angle 156.539 degree
Arg of Periapsis -136.719 degree
Mean Anomaly -.733E-04 degree
EARTH 2 TO IDA:
Orbital Elements valid from J.D. = 2448965.13222 ET (92/12/08 15:09:25 GMT)
to J.D. = 2449228.20353 ET (93/08/28 16:52:05 GMT)
Epoch of Orbital Elements: J.D. = 2448965.13222 ET (92/12/08 15:09:25 GMT)
Classical Orbital Elements
Sun centered, Earth ecliptic and equinox of J2000
Semi-major Axis 468321255.9 km
Eccentricity .686152
Inclination 1.517 degree
Node Angle -103.096 degree
Arg of Periapsis -173.802 degree
Mean Anomaly -.842 degree
IDA CLOSE APPROACH STATE:
Epoch of Orbital Elements: J.D. = 2449228.20353 ET (93/08/28 16:52:05 GMT)
Classical Orbital Elements
Ida centered, Earth ecliptic and equinox of J2000
Semi-major Axis -.6E-08 km
Eccentricity 366653413599.7
Inclination 104.808 degree
Node Angle -166.247 degree
Arg of Periapsis -89.238 degree
Mean Anomaly -315100932.485 degree
IDA TO JUPITER CENTRAL BODY CHANGE:
Orbital Elements valid from J.D. = 2449228.20353 ET (93/08/28 16:52:05 GMT)
to J.D. = 2449974.45685 ET (95/09/13 22:56:51 GMT)
Epoch of Orbital Elements: J.D. = 2449228.20353 ET (93/08/28 16:52:05 GMT)
Classical Orbital Elements
Sun centered, Earth ecliptic and equinox of J2000
Semi-major Axis 469066413.2 km
Eccentricity .689222
Inclination 1.552 degree
Node Angle -104.331 degree
Arg of Periapsis -172.744 degree
Mean Anomaly 45.697 degree