Projects: Space Information
The Planetary Report
Volume XXIII, Number 5, September/October 2003
On the Cover
Clockwise from upper left, these images from Galileo
are Jupiter's atmosphere (false color); Culann Patera on Io (false color);
comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 hitting Jupiter; Europa (false color); Asteroid Ida
and its moon, Dactyl; and Ganymede.
From The Editor
The (seemingly) never-ending story is
over: the Galileo spacecraft, which
has been exploring the Jovian system
since 1995, is sacrificing itself to protect
whatever life-forms might exist on the
icy moon Europa. There’s not enough
propellant left for spacecraft controllers
to guide Galileo safely through another
orbit of Jupiter, so to ensure it never can
collide with Europa, it was targeted to
enter Jupiter’s massive atmosphere,
where it will be safely obliterated.
If Hollywood had produced a movie
with as many plot twists and turns, hopeless
situations, and victories snatched
from the jaws of defeat as the Galileo
mission has seen, critics would have
roasted it for being unbelievable. But,
as is often the case, the real story is
stranger than any we can imagine.
In this special issue of The Planetary Report, we have tried to let
the mission managers and scientists tell the story in their own, different
ways. As you read through these pages, keep in mind the extraordinary dedication,
skill, knowledge, and sheer stubbornness it took to launch this spacecraft,
keep it flying, and see its data returned.
Galileo was a triumph of the will to explore—and of the human spirit.
That is what we seek to continue with the support of The Planetary Society’s
members.
— Charlene M. Anderson
Features
“There was nothing like Galileo. . .” John Casani Remembers
The mission that
became Galileo was proposed in 1976 as a relatively simple fieldsand- particles
orbiter that would carry an atmospheric probe to Jupiter. It was too simple
to last. Galileo grew into one of the most complex and ambitious exploratory
missions ever launched—and one of the most jinxed. Again and again, the mission
changed launchers, was redesigned—even split in two—and restored, then bumped
off its launcher, nearly canceled, and forced onto a tortuous trajectory
that sent it on a loopthe- loop path to Jupiter. And that’s before the equipment
problems started. John Casani led the mission team through Galileo’s incredible
saga and shares his memories here.
Casani Aborts Retirement, Heads for
Jovian Realm—Again
Some people just cannot resist a challenge. John Casani has reentered the fray of planetary missions, leading the development of
a mission that could initiate a new era of exploration. The Jupiter Icy Moons
Orbiter is being designed as the first mission that would use nuclear propulsion
to explore the planets.
Galileo’s Greatest Hits: The Scientists’ Choices
The scientists of the Galileo
mission were an extraordinarily persistent bunch. Many of them were on the
mission for nearly a decade before the spacecraft launched and waited 6 years
for it to reach its destination. Their persistence paid off with an extraordinary
array of discoveries. Each scientist probably has his or her favorite, so
we felt the best way to cover “Galileo’s Greatest
Hits” was
to ask the people who made them happen.
Departments
Members’ Dialogue
We Make It Happen!
World Watch
Society News
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