Galileo mission overview

Abstract

The Galileo mission has three major and equally important scientific objectives: the investigation of the chemical composition and physical state of the Jupiter atmosphere, the study of the composition and state of the Jovian satellites, and the probing of the structure and physical dynamics of the Jovian magnetosphere. The Galileo spacecraft comprises an Orbiter and an atmospheric entry Probe, which will be released on a ballistic entry trajectory from the Orbiter about 150 days before Jupiter arrival. After Probe release, the Orbiter will overfly the Probe during entry in order to relay its data to earth. The Orbiter will then insert itself into a 200-day orbit around Jupiter. Attention is given to the radio science, remote sensing and fields and particles instruments to be carried for the mission.