The metre diameter antenna for the Galileo spaceprobe being tested at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The spaceprobe consists of 2 parts, an orbite

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The metre diameter antenna for the Galileo spaceprobe being tested at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The spaceprobe consists of 2 parts, an orbiter and an atmospheric probe. 56 days before reaching Jupiter, the orbiter will release the probe to enter the planet's atmosphere on the sunlit side. The probe will study the atmosphere during its 30-min descent, whilst the orbiter will go on to circle Jupiter for at least 20 months, studying the planet and its satellites. Galileo was due to be launched by the Shuttle in May 1986, but, because of the loss of Challenger and subsequent grounding of the Shuttle, has missed its launch window. Its future is now uncertain.

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Size: 3665px × 4645px
Photo credit: © US NAVAL OBSERVATORY/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: antenna, craft, exploration, galileo, jupiter, orbiter, probe, research, space, spacecraft, spaceprobe