What role did the Jupiter Orbit Insertion (JOI) maneuver play in Galileo's mission sequence?
Answer
It involved using a gravity assist from Io to slow down for capture by Jupiter’s gravity.
The Jupiter Orbit Insertion (JOI) maneuver was a technically critical step required for the Galileo mission to become an orbiter rather than a flyby probe. To be successfully captured by Jupiter's massive gravitational field, the spacecraft had to drastically reduce its velocity relative to the planet. This was achieved by executing a precise maneuver utilizing a gravity assist from Io, one of Jupiter's large inner moons. This assist provided the necessary deceleration for Galileo to enter a stable, though complex, orbit around the gas giant.
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