Galileo Atmospheric Entry Probe System - Design, development, and test

The overall development of the Galileo Atmospheric Entry Probe System is described. The Probe will be carried to Jupiter by the Galileo Orbiter and released on an entry trajectory 150 days before entry. A complement of seven science instruments will measure the near-Jupiter radiation field and the characteristics of the Jovian atmosphere from a distance of about 5 Jupiter radii above the 1-bar level down to levels in the 10-20-bar range. Probe data are to be transmitted to earth via the Orbiter. System requirements are discussed. Probe design features and those features of the development test program peculiar to entry probes are described.