Galileo Probe
The Galileo Probe was a part of the Galileo Mission, an ambitious space exploration project conducted by NASA to study the planet Jupiter and its moons. Here are detailed insights into the probe:
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Launch and Journey: The Galileo Probe was launched along with the Galileo Orbiter on October 18, 1989, from the Space Shuttle Atlantis during mission STS-34. The probe took almost six years to reach Jupiter, utilizing gravity assists from Venus and Earth.
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Design and Instruments: The probe was engineered to withstand the extreme conditions of Jupiter's atmosphere. It was cylindrical, about 1.3 meters in diameter, and weighed approximately 339 kilograms. It carried a suite of six scientific instruments:
- Atmospheric Structure Instrument (ASI)
- Helium Abundance Detector (HAD)
- Nephelometer (NEP)
- Net Flux Radiometer (NFR)
- Neutral Mass Spectrometer (NMS)
- Energetic Particles Instrument (EPI)
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Descent into Jupiter: On December 7, 1995, the Galileo Probe entered Jupiter's atmosphere. It began transmitting data back to Earth via the Galileo Orbiter, which was orbiting around Jupiter at the time. The probe descended for about 57 minutes, reaching a depth of approximately 150 kilometers below the visible cloud tops.
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Scientific Findings:
- The probe measured wind speeds up to 400 mph, much higher than anticipated.
- It found that Jupiter's atmosphere contained less water than expected, suggesting a drier atmosphere than previously thought.
- Helium was measured to be slightly more abundant than in the Sun, providing clues about Jupiter's formation.
- Unexpectedly, the probe entered a "hot spot," an area with less cloud cover, which influenced some of its measurements.
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End of Mission: Due to the intense pressure and heat, the probe was expected to be destroyed around 150 kilometers below the cloud tops, which occurred shortly after its transmission ceased.
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Legacy: The data collected by the Galileo Probe provided invaluable insights into Jupiter's atmosphere, contributing significantly to our understanding of gas giants. This mission was a precursor to future explorations like the Juno Mission.
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