Galileo Gets 2 More Years At Jupiter

Deglr6328 writes "The Galileo space probe, which has been orbiting Jupiter since 1995, has received it's third and final mission extension from NASA. Galileo will remain in the Jovian system for 2 more years and 5 orbits studying Callisto, Io and Amalthea, then the spacecraft will take an elongated loop away from Jupiter and head back for a direct impact and burn in Jupiter's atmosphere. The extension will cost $9 million and was approved by the National Academy of Sciences which originally had concerns about it potentially contaminating Europa."

Comments

Good News indeed...

[TWX_the_Linux_Zealot]

While operating the craft is relatively expensive (compared to driving a car or eating lunch) the fact that it's already there and still working is a really good sign to the machine's manufacture. That $9 million is pocket change compared to more complex operations that are engaged in on a regular basis, and is nothing compared to defense (read war standby) preparations. We need to do more like this, missions that are not hype and may not have immediate popular return, but allow for real science to have a chance of prevailing.

"Titanic was 3hr and 17min long. They could have lost 3hr and 17min from that."