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Hello Io, From Galileo

Posted by timothy on from the getting-away-from-it-all dept.

FortKnox writes: "This afternoon super-durable Galileo will swoop in on the south pole of Io. Scientists hope to learn a little more about the volcanic moon of Jupiter. And it shows some great NASA innovation in the little probe still working great (although low on fuel). Fly-by will happen at 3:23pm EST."

1 of 18 comments (clear)

  1. Magnetic field? by CheshireCatCO · · Score: 4, Informative

    The article hints at, but doesn't really explain, that the principle goal here is to find out of Io has an intrinsic or induced magnetic field. If the field is induced from Io's moment through Jupiter's whomping-string field (actually, the latter moves over Io more than anything, but whatever), then the south polar pass will show a different field signature than if the field is intrisically due to the internal workings of Io's core (a molten, convecting core ought to be able to create a field).

    Last time Galileo tried this, it suffered a glitch just prior to closest approach. The magnetometer was turned out late in the restart sequence (which was probably a poor decision), so we didn't get the data two years ago. (This fly-by has been dubbed the 'cry-by' by several researchers I know.)

    Let's just hold the poor, battered warrior survives this one.