[sci.astro] Galileo Update - 12/10/90

baalke@mars.jpl.nasa.gov (Ron Baalke) (12/13/90)

                      GALILEO STATUS REPORT
                        December 10, 1990
 
     The Galileo spacecraft superbly completed its Earth 1 qravity assist on
December 8.  Earth closest approach altitude was within 7 km of prediction;
closest approach time was within 0.4 second of prediction.
 
     Galileo continues to collect valuable science data as part of the Earth
Encounter sequence.  At present about 1800 images have been taken with
approximately 1700 more to be taken in the next few days.  The spacecraft's
operating state was successfully reconfigured back to a near cruise mode state
following the Earth flyby.
      ___    _____     ___
     /_ /|  /____/ \  /_ /|
     | | | |  __ \ /| | | |      Ron Baalke         | baalke@mars.jpl.nasa.gov
  ___| | | | |__) |/  | | |___   Jet Propulsion Lab | baalke@jems.jpl.nasa.gov
 /___| | | |  ___/    | |/__ /|  M/S 301-355        |
 |_____|/  |_|/       |_____|/   Pasadena, CA 91109 |