Letter Report: Scientific Assessment of Options for the Disposition of the Galileo Spacecraft (2000) / Chapter Skim
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Scientific Assessment of Options for the Disposal of the Galileo Spacecraft
Scientific Assessment of Options for the Disposal of the Galileo Spacecraft
Pages 4-9
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From page 4... ...
Monte CarIo simulations of the spacecraft's orbit indicate that Galileo has a relatively high probability of eventually colliding with one of Jupiter's satellites unless some action is taken to achieve an alternative result. Thus, Galileo must be disposed of in a controlled fashion and in a manner that does not compromise the scientific integrity of any planetary body likely to be of interest for future biological studies.
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From page 5... ...
As such, Ganymede's biological potential cannot be shown to be zero, but it is certainly lower than that of Europa.8 On the other hand, Callisto's surface is heavily cratered and shows little or no evidence of internal geologic activity.9 Nevertheless, Callisto displays magnetic characteristics indicative of a global 3 Space Studies Board, National Research Council, Evaluating the Biological Potential in Samples Returnedirom Planetary Satellites and Small Solar System Bodies Framework for Decision Making, National Academy Press, Washington, D.C., 1998, pages 31 and 77. 4 Space Studies Board, National Research Council, A Science Strategyfor the Exploration of Europa, National Academy Press, Washington, O.C, I9g9, pages 3, 22-23' 26-27' and 64.
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From page 6... ...
Malhotra, "The Galilean Satellites," Science 286: 77, 1999. 12 Space Studies Board, National Research Council, Evaluating the Biological Potential in Samples Returnedfi-om Planetary Satellites and Small Solar System Bodies Framework for Decision Making, National Academy Press, Washington, D.C., 1998, page 77.
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From page 7... ...
This field may, according to some computer simulations, be generated by deep internal flows driven by the nonuniform tidal heating of Io s mantle. If present, this type of dynamo action would provide constraints on the nature of Io s core that would, in turn, contribute information central to theories of planetary evolution.
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From page 8... ...
'8 COMPLEX was told that the trajectory options allowing flybys of both Io and Amalthea may be inconsistent with the mission's current financial resources. |9 Space Studies Board, National Research Council, An Integrated Strategyfor the Planetary Sciences: 1995-2010, National Academy Press, Washington, D.C., 1994, page 92.
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From page 9... ...
This estimate, plus the fact that Galileo remains healthy—it still possesses full redundancy in all of its major subsystems, and the radiation damage incurred thus far has not handicapped control of the spacecraft suggests to COMPLEX that the probability of total loss of control during this extra year is relatively small. Based on these considerations, COMPLEX reached a consensus that deferring the destruction of Galileo until after the completion of the lo polar flybys is an appropriate course of action, pending the completion of a quantitative assessment of the risk of contaminating the putative europan ocean with terrestrial organisms hitchhiking aboard Galileo.
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