Mission to Jupiter: A History of the Galileo Project

This book attempts to convey the creativity, leadership, and vision that were necessary for the Galileo mission's success. It is a book about dedicated people and their scientific and engineering achievements. The Galileo mission faced many significant problems. Some of the most brilliant accomplishments and work-arounds of the Galileo staff occurred precisely when these challenges arose. Throughout the mission, engineers and scientists found ways to keep the spacecraft operational from a distance of nearly half a billion miles, enabling one of the most impressive voyages of scientific discovery. The following chapters are included in the book and give a general overview of its contents: 1) The Importance of the Galileo Project; 2) From Conception to Congressional Approval; 3) The Struggle To Launch Galileo: Technical Difficulties and Political Opposition; 4) The Challenger Accident and Its Impact on the Galileo Mission; 5) The Galileo Spacecraft; 6) Galileo Deployment, the Inner Solar System Tour, and the Asteroid Belt; 7) The High-Gain Antenna Failure: A Disappointment and a Challenge; 8) Jupiter Approach and Arrival; 9) The Orbiter Tour; 10) Profiles of Selected People Important to the Mission; 11) Conclusion.