Galileo Interplanetary Orbital Elements

The orbital elements for the interplanetary trajectory have been selected to reflect states after the largest of the trajectory correction maneuvers (TCM's) and the best orbit determination solutions for the trajectory at the close approaches to Venus, Earth (twice), and the asteroids Gaspra (#243) and Ida (#951). The elements for the Jupiter approach trajectory, both Sun-centered and Jupiter-centered portions, as well as those for the satellite tour were found using a patched conic method because of the frequency of maneuvers.

The orbital elements are given in Earth mean ecliptic and equinox of 1950 (EMO50) coordinates. 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

IDA TO JUPITER TRAJECTORY:
Orbital Elements valid from J.D. = 2449228.20353 ET  (93/08/28 16:52:05 GMT)
                       to   J.D. = 2449912.81250 ET  (95/07/14 07:29:00 GMT)
Epoch of Orbital Elements:  J.D. = 2449269.42953 ET  (93/10/08 22:17:31 GMT)
Classical Orbital Elements
Sun centered, Earth ecliptic and equinox of B1950
Semi-major Axis       469844000.         km
Eccentricity          0.685664
Inclination           1.519              degree
Node Angle           -104.080            degree
Arg of Periapsis     -173.283            degree
True Anomaly          134.941            degree

JUPITER APPROACH (Sun-centered):
Orbital Elements valid from J.D. = 2449912.81250 ET  (95/07/14 07:29:00 GMT)
                       to   J.D. = 2449974.44319 ET  (95/09/13 22:37:11 GMT)
Epoch of Orbital Elements:  J.D. = 2449912.81250 ET  (95/07/14 07:29:00 GMT)
Classical Orbital Elements
Sun centered, Earth ecliptic and equinox of B1950
Semi-major Axis        463203000.        km
Eccentricity           0.710465
Inclination            1.768             degree
Node Angle            -104.410           degree
Arg of Periapsis      -173.591           degree
True Anomaly           177.075           degree

PROBE ONLY FROM PROBE SEPARATION TO CENTRAL BODY CHANGE (Sun-centered):
Orbital Elements valid from J.D. = 2449912.81250 ET  (95/07/14 07:29:00 GMT)
                       to   J.D. = 2449974.62457 ET  (95/09/14 02:58:23 GMT)
Epoch of Orbital Elements:  J.D. = 2449912.81250 ET  (95/07/14 07:29:00 GMT)
Classical Orbital Elements
Sun centered, Earth ecliptic and equinox of B1950
Semi-major Axis       465376000.         km
Eccentricity          0.703151
Inclination           1.705              degree
Node Angle           -104.540            degree
Arg of Periapsis     -173.231            degree
True Anomaly          176.844            degree

PROBE ONLY FROM CENTRAL BODY CHANGE TO PROBE ENTRY AT JUPITER:
Orbital Elements valid from J.D. = 2449974.62457 ET  (95/09/14  02:58:23 GMT)
                       to   J.D. = 2450059.420440 ET (95/12/07  22:04:26 GMT)
Epoch of Orbital Elements:  J.D. = 2450059.420440 ET (95/12/07  22:04:26 GMT)
Classical Orbital Elements
Jupiter centered, Earth ecliptic and equinox of B1950
Semi-major Axis      -2274620.           km
Eccentricity          1.031162
Inclination           8.151              degree
Node Angle            25.541             degree
Arg of Periapsis      134.770            degree
True Anomaly         -13.440             degree

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