Earth-Based Radio Tracking of the Galileo Probe for Jupiter Wind Estimation
W. M. Folkner,
R. A. Preston,
J. S. Border,
J. Navarro,
*
W. E. Wilson,
M. Oestreich
Although the Galileo probe was designed to communicate only to the
orbiter, the probe radio signal was detected at two Earth-based radio
observatories where the signal was a billion times weaker. The measured
signal frequency was used to derive a vertical profile of the jovian
zonal wind speed. Due to the mission geometry, the Earth-based wind
estimates are less sensitive to descent trajectory errors than
estimates based on probe-orbiter Doppler measurements. The two
estimates of wind profiles agree qualitatively; both show high wind
speeds at all depths sampled.
W. M. Folkner, R. A. Preston, J. S. Border, Jet Propulsion
Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91109, USA.
J. Navarro, National Radio Astronomy Observatory, Socorro, NM, 87801 USA.
W. E. Wilson and M. Oestreich, CSIRO Australia Telescope
National Facility, Epping, New South Wales, Australia.
*
Present address: Kvednaberget 12, 4033 Forus, Norway.
