Galileo FAQ - January 10, 1996
Galileo - A Brief Overview
What don't we know about Jupiter that is important to learn and which
Galileo will help provide an answer?
- We don't know the precise composition of the atmosphere
- We don't know the basic nature of the driving forces for its meteorology
- We don't understand the processes forming the Io tours and the mechanisms
which energize the magnetosphere
- We don't understand the geologic histories and physical state of the
Galilean satellites
Do scientists known much about Jupiter or is there still a great deal of
mystery? If so, what?
There are many mysteries about the Jupiter system. Among them are:
- How similar to the original solar nebula is the atmosphere?,
- What drives the weather on Jupiter?,
- How volcanic is the moon Io?,
- Does Europa have a liquid water ocean under its ice crust?,
- How does the magnetosphere work? How does it interact with the satellites?,
- Do the satellites have their own magnetic fields?
What is unique about the Galileo mission?
The Galileo mission makes major advances over previous missions:
- The first in situ sampling of an outer planet atmosphere,
- The first orbiter of a gas giant planet,
- Satellite encounters hundreds of times closer than Voyager's,
- Two years of surveying the Jovian environment,
- State-of-the-art instrumentation much more capable than previous missions.
How will learning about Jupiter help scientists understand Earth? The Solar
System?
The Jovian system contains clues to much of the early history of the solar
system. Advances in such fields as meteorology, geochemistry, geology and
geophysics, atmospheric sciences and space physics are expected. These are all
disciplines which benefit all the earth sciences and understanding both our own
planet and our place in the universe.
What are the most fascinating aspects of Jupiter compared to other planets?
- The largest - ~70% the mass of all planets combined
- Large satellite system
- Unique ring system
- Most volcanically active body know - Io
- Largest magnetosphere
How would you describe what has been learned to-date about Jupiter compared
to what scientists hope to learn from the Galileo mission?
Previous missions (Pioneer and Voyager) provided brief reconnaissance - Galileo
is the first thorough study of system.
What can be learned by orbiting the gaseous planet that could not be gained
by the earlier flybys?
- Study of variations in atmosphere, magnetosphere and on satellites
- Much closer, multiple satellite encounters
- Better instrumentation
What new technology, if any, had to be developed for the spacecraft?
- SEU hard microprocessors
- Increased radiation hardening
- CCD's for space applications
- Distributed processor architecture for flight data system
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