Message-ID: <771@decwrl.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 27-Feb-85 11:21:58 EST
Article-I.D.: decwrl.771
Posted: Wed Feb 27 11:21:58 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 1-Mar-85 21:02:17 EST
Sender: daemon@decwrl.UUCP
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Apologies if this information has already shown up in net.space, but I don't
remember seeing it.

It seems that fairly recently, as space project timelines go, someone at JPL
discovered that the Galileo Jupiter probe would be passing fairly close to
an asteroid called Amphitrite on its way to Jupiter.  Since no spacecraft from
earth has ever investigated of any asteroid, JPL and the Planetary Society
started lobbying with NASA to have Galileo diverted slightly to fly close
enough to Amphitrite to get some useful data about it from the spacecraft
instruments. Until yesterday, the latest I heard was that it was being
considered, but chances were only moderate, since it required a lot of changes
in the mission plan, and since it would delay Galileo's arrival at Jupiter by
some weeks (months?). 

Yesterday, I read in THE PLANETARY REPORT that NASA has approved the diversion.

I say three cheers and congratulations to NASA for being so aggressive.  Taking
calculated risks is what exploration is all about, and I am glad to see that
NASA is still in the exploration business! 

BTW, does anyone know how to pronounce Amphitrite (3 syllables or 4?)

Burns


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