|
Credit & Copyright: NASA,
Galileo Project
Explanation:
Today, at about 5:00 pm EST, this
750 pound probe
from NASA's robot spacecraft Galileo will plummet into
Jupiter becoming
the first probe to fly through the atmosphere of a gas giant planet.
Released by the Galileo orbiter in July of this year, it
has been coasting toward its rendezvous with the Solar System's
largest planet. The probe will
smack Jupiter's atmosphere
at over 100,000 mph slowing to
less than 1,000 mph in a matter of minutes, experiencing a deceleration
of about 230 times the Earth's surface gravity.
If all goes well, it will then deploy a parachute and descend,
using sophisticated instruments to profile Jupiter's dense outer layers
of hydrogen and helium gas.
Pictured here before launch,
the probe descent module (top)is suspended
above its deceleration module aeroshell (bottom) prior to being joined.
The aeroshell should protect the descent module
from the initial shock and heat of entry,
which will initially create an intense fireball,
over twice as hot as the surface of the Sun.
|
January February March April May June July August September October November December |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: Jupiter - Galileo
Publications with words: Jupiter - Galileo
See also: