Refurbished Antenna Will Work For Galileo

Even though Galileo's encounter with Jupiter is almost a year away, mission planners are wasting no time in ensuring that Deep Space Network support will enable the spacecraft to operate at its fullest capabilities. The 70-meter antenna at the DSN's Canberra, Australia tracking station will shortly be refurbished to optimize Galileo support.

The refurbished antenna will achieve a 23 percent reduction in the noise level from Galileo, he said. Galileo will begin Jupiter orbit insertion Dec. 7, 1995, but if all goes as planned, the antenna will be ready as early as next July or August.