Galileo Mission Status - March 27, 1997
PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE JET PROPULSION LABORATORY CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION PASADENA, CALIF. 91109. TELEPHONE (818) 354-5011 http://www.jpl.nasa.gov
This is the final week for playback of data gathered during Galileo's February 20th Europa encounter. Included in the potpourri of Europa information is data on surface composition, an observation expected to help scientists distinguish between new and old ice, images of bright plains and craters that may help explain the formation of these features, and a fields and particles observation of Europa's interaction with Jupiter's magnetosphere.
The playback also features Io observations of surface chemistry, volcanic activity, and the surface while eclipsed from the Sun. Observations of two of Jupiter's white ovals, global observations of Ganymede and Callisto, and a single Amalthea observation have also be transmitted.
With the wrap-up of Europa 6 playback, the end of this week marks the start of preparations for Galileo's next encounter, a Ganymede flyby at 11:11 p.m. Pacific Standard Time on Friday, April 4. An orbital trim maneuver is planned for Monday, March 31, one day after the beginning of the Ganymede encounter period. Maintenance activities will also be performed, including the flushing of the thruster lines to prevent debris blockage, and conditioning of the tape recorder.
After this next Ganymede flyby, Galileo has four more encounters of Jupiter's moons scheduled during its two-year primary journey through the Jovian system. A planned two-year continuation of the mission, referred to as the Galileo Europa Mission (GEM), will include eight more Europa flybys and an Io flyby, as long as the spacecraft remains healthy.
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