Other spacecraft questions

In sci.space.shuttle message , Wed, 10 Aug
2011 08:12:32, Brian Gaff posted:

As there seems to be no group for such things in this hierarchy, here goes.
Why is the Juno spacecraft seemingly tied to this specific number of orbits,
namely 33? Also why is it using Solar, I'd have thought that just using
Solar would mean that it in fact should have a very long life as it won't
run the risk of the decay of the heat producing core as nuclear powered
craft do.

Jovian radiation environment would be expected to kill its brain within
not much longer than that, as it is, they're kept in a heavy Titanium
box.

The orbit round Jupiter is very elliptical and exactly timed. 15 passed
will cover the surface at 20 degree intervals, then a slight plane
change and the next 15 go half-way between. After that, it will have
completed the intended work.

It will be crashed into Jupiter to ensure that it does not, in its old
age, crash into a satellite.

Solar power is sufficient; Juno will always face the Sun, will not be in
eclipse at Jupiter, and will only briefly be in eclipse during the Earth
fly-by.

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