From: henry@spsystems.net   
      
   In article ,   
   Gordon D. Pusch  wrote:   
   >1.)  Galileo's impact velocity will be so high it will wiff to plasma.   
   >2.)  Jupiter's environment is most likely too alien for anything that   
   >   evolved on Earth to survive there --- even in the "water zone."   
   >3.)  Jupiter has almost certainly already been hit by terrestrial material   
   >   ejected by asteroid impacts...   
      
   Possibly not since life evolved, though; it takes a really huge impact to   
   get stuff off Earth.  The other two points I generally agree with.   
      
   >Note that all of the above are likewise true of an impact on Europa,   
      
   No, the lack of an atmosphere changes the picture.  The impact energy is   
   not necessarily uniformly distributed; fragments could survive.   
      
   >so this whole self-immolation maneuver is almost certainly pointless ---   
   >it is basically just a misguided PR exercise to demonstrate JPL's   
   >"environmental responsibility" to people who are still going to hate   
   >and oppose them...   
      
   If memory serves, the recommendation for disposal of Galileo by Jupiter   
   impact came from a science advisory panel, not from JPL.   
   --   
   MOST launched 1015 EDT 30 June, separated 1046,         | Henry Spencer   
   first ground-station pass 1651, all nominal!            | henry@spsystems.net   
      
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