Erickson J K, Cox Z N, Paczkowski B G, Sible R W, Theilig E E
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA.
Acta Astronaut. 2000 Jul-Nov;47(2-9):419-41. doi: 10.1016/s0094-5765(00)00083-7.
Galileo has completed the Europa leg of the Galileo Europa Mission, and is now pumping down the apojove in each succeeding orbit in preparation for the Io phase. Including three encounters earlier in the primary mission, the total of ten close passes by Europa have provided a wealth of interesting and provocative information about this intriguing body. The results presented include new and exciting information about Europa's interactions with Jupiter's magnetosphere, its interior structure, and its tantalizing surface features, which strongly hint at a watery subsurface layer. Additional data concerning Callisto, and its own outlook for a subsurface ocean are also presented. In addition the engineering aspects of operating the spacecraft during the past year are explored, as well as a brief examination of what will be the challenges to prepare for the Io encounters. The steadily increasing radiation dosage that the spacecraft is experiencing is well beyond the original design parameters, and is contributing to a number of spacecraft problems and concerns. The ability of the flight team to analyze and solve these problems, even at the reduced staffing levels of an extended mission, is a testament to their tenacity and loyalty to the mission. The engineering data being generated by these continuing radiation-induced anomalies will prove invaluable to designers of future spacecraft to Jupiter and its satellites. The lessons learned during this arduous process are presented.
“伽利略号”已经完成了“伽利略-木卫二任务”中对木卫二的探测阶段,现在正在每个后续轨道上降低远木点高度,为进入对木卫一的探测阶段做准备。在主要任务前期已有三次飞越,加上这一次,“伽利略号”总共十次近距离飞越木卫二,获取了大量关于这颗迷人星球的有趣且引人深思的信息。展示的结果包括有关木卫二与木星磁层相互作用、其内部结构以及诱人的表面特征的全新且令人兴奋的信息,这些特征强烈暗示其存在地下液态水层。还展示了有关木卫四及其地下海洋可能性的其他数据。此外,探讨了过去一年中操控航天器的工程方面情况,以及对准备木卫一飞越所面临挑战的简要审视。航天器所承受的辐射剂量持续增加,远超最初设计参数,引发了诸多航天器问题。即便在延长任务期间人员配备减少的情况下,飞行团队分析并解决这些问题的能力,证明了他们对任务的坚韧和忠诚。由这些持续的辐射诱发异常所产生的工程数据,对未来前往木星及其卫星的航天器设计师而言将极具价值。文中呈现了在此艰难过程中汲取的经验教训。