Ulysses operations at Jupiter - Planning for the unknown

Abstract

The operational preparations for the Ulysses encounter with Jupiter are described with particular attention given to requirements for survival in the Jovian environment, ground-segment planning, a deep-space network, and encounter activities. It is concluded that the successful operation of the Ulysses spacecraft at Jupiter was the culmination of many years of activity, from spacecraft design and mission planning to the coordination of the encounter activities and production of the detailed timeline.