Music of the Spheres
The Galileo team has an honorable tradition of commemorating important mission events by writing songs about them. For starters, here are a few numbers that were written for a recent "Outer Planets" lunchtime event; we'll be putting additional songs here in the months to come.
Well, hello Jove! We're on the go. Galileo. We're on the go Jupiter-ho! then we'll stay-o. Moons indeed! Ganymede and Callisto Son of a gun, gonna have good fun seein' Io! CHORUS Arrival day, (A) month away Galileo. Got a lotta things to do on that day-o. Europa, Probe data, me-oh-my-oh. Son of gun, gonna have good fun seein' Io Gonna be in a sea of radiation. To explore in no place for a vacation. Well, we'll eat some dust if we must. Me-oh-my-oh. Son of a gun, gonna have big fun seein' Io. REPEAT CHORUS********************************************
Look, there's the little moon called Io Rising up into the night sky And all those sulfuric volcanoes Catch my eye Hey, didn't we just see that same moon only 'bout ten hours ago? Jupiter spins fast while the Earth spins slow Sunrise, sunset, sunrise, sunset Swiftly go the days When you are living on Jupiter nighttime is a very short phase Sunrise, sunset, sunrise, sunset Swiftly goes the night One rotation and then another Swirling clouds orange, brown and white********************************************
It's a good Probe, comes from the Earth from A-mes, and J-P-L too. It's a good Probe, crazy 'bout science Loves clo-ouds and lightning too. It's a short trip gettin' to Jupiter there's a ice ring crossin' through the sky and it's a good thing, that I'm going to miss it I'm a good Probe and I'm gonna fly. And I'm free, free fallin' Yeah, I'm free, free fallin' All the satellites wanderin' through their orbits move 'round and 'round (in) gravity's force And all the bad rads are waitin' at Jupiter All the good ones are in Io's torus. And I'm free, free fallin' Yeah, I'm free, free fallin' Wanna glide down into the clo-uds I wanna leave my streak in the sky I'm gonna melt down, down into nothin' (but) before then gonna transmit awhile And I'm free, free fallin' Yeah, I'm free, free fallin'********************************************
When I get older, losing my fuel Many years from now Will you still be sending me commands sometimes? Thruster flushings, maneuver designs? 'Cause I've been out in outer space, Where no one's gone before. Will you still need me? Will you still lead me? Will I still explore? You'll be bolder, too And if you send the word I'll downlink to you I could orbit ol' Jupiter Even Io, too You can learn about the magnetosphere See if any comets appear Image Callisto The Great Red Spot Who could ask for more? Will you still need me? Will you still lead me? Will I still explore? Every orbit we can use propellant to perform a trim Targets will be near We shall scrimp and save Orbits for years to come If the valves behave Send me some uploads Link me some bits Stating what to do Indicate precisely what you mean to say So I won't be wasting away Give me your game plan Access my core Command lines to store Will you still need me? Will you still lead me? Will I still explore?