Overview: Fundamental Technologies, LLC, provides data products for the EPD instrument on the Galileo spacecraft. The Energetic Particles Detector was one of ten scientific instruments remaining aboard the orbiter after the probe separated and entered the Jovian atmosphere in December 1995. The EPD instrument detected and counted high energy electrons, protons, alpha particles, and heavy ions.
Mission Background: Named after the historical astronomer Galileo Galilei, the Galileo Spacecraft was the first spacecraft in history to orbit Jupiter. After being launched on October 18th, 1989, Galileo made use of gravitational assists from Venus and Earth in order to arrive at Jupiter on December 7th, 1995. It then spent eight years collecting data from Jupiter and its system before being terminated on September 21st, 2003, by being sent to crash into Jupiter's atmosphere.
| ACRONYM | TYPE OF INVESTIGATION |
|---|---|
| SSI | Solid state camera for images in 0.4-1.1 micrometer wavelengths |
| NIMS | Detectors of silicon, antimonide, and indium |
| UVS/EUV | Electron pulse counts |
| PPR | Solar and thermal radiation, and a spectral range of 17-110 micrometers |
| DDS | Mass, velocity, and electric charge of incoming particles |
| EPD | Counts and energies of particles whose energy exceeds 20 KeV |
| HIC | Heavy ions with energies from 6-200 KeV |
| MAG | Jupiter's magnetic field |
| PLS | Particles in the energy range from 0.9-52,000 eV |
| PWS | The electric field of plasmas |
Additional information at Fundamental Technologies, LLC:
Updated 8/23/19, Cameron Crane
QUICK FACTS
Mission Duration: Galileo was planned to have a mission duration of around 8 years, but was kept in operation for 13 years, 11 months, and 3 days, until it was destroyed in a controlled impact with Jupiter on September 21, 2003.
Destination: Galileo's destination was Jupiter and its moons, which it orbitted for 7 years, 9 months, and 13 days.