Jet Propulsion Laboratory (U.S.). Orbiter Configuration Management Team.

The Galileo Project was originally called Jupiter Orbiter-Probe. Galileo was launched October 18, 1989, aboard the Shuttle Atlantis STS 34. The Galileo Mission consisted of two spacecraft: an orbiter and an atmospheric probe. The two spacecraft were kicked out of Earth orbit by an inertial upper stage (IUS) rocket, sending them on a path through the inner solar system to gain speed through gravity assist planetary flybys.

The trajectory, which the spacecraft followed was called a VEEGA (Venus-Earth-Earth Gravity Assist). It meant traveling first in toward the Sun for a gravity assist from Venus before encountering the Earth two times (spaced two years apart). These encounters with Venus and the Earth allowed Galileo to gain enough velocity to travel to Jupiter in much less time.

The purpose of the Galileo Orbiter Functional Requirements Book was to provide the design criteria, the functional requirements and an accurate functional description of the Galileo Orbiter for the establishment of the subsystems and overall Orbiter system design. Also, it defined the Orbiter System and allocated system functions among the subsystems.

From the description of Galileo Orbiter Functional Requirements Book, 1979-1983. (Jet Propulsion Laboratory Library and Archives). WorldCat record id: 733100203