Galileo (spacecraft) facts for kids
Artist's concept of Galileo at Io with Jupiter in the background; the high-gain antenna is fully deployed
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| Names | Jupiter Orbiter Probe |
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| Mission type | Jupiter orbiter |
| Operator | NASA |
| Mission duration |
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| Distance travelled | 4,631,778,000 km (2.88 billion mi) |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Manufacturer |
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| Launch mass |
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| Dry mass |
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| Payload mass |
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| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | October 18, 1989, 16:53:40 UTC |
| Rocket | Space Shuttle Atlantis STS-34 / IUS |
| Launch site | Kennedy LC-39B |
| Entered service | December 8, 1995, 01:16 UTC SCET |
| End of mission | |
| Disposal | Controlled entry into Jupiter |
| Decay date | September 21, 2003, 18:57:18 GMT SCET; September 21, 2003, 19:49:36 GMT ERT |
| Jupiter orbiter | |
| Spacecraft component | Orbiter |
| Orbital insertion | December 8, 1995, 01:16 UTC SCET |
| Jupiter atmospheric probe | |
| Spacecraft component | Probe |
| Atmospheric entry | December 7, 1995, 22:04 UTC SCET |
| Impact site | 06°05′N 04°04′W / 6.083°N 4.067°W at entry interface |
NASA Flagship Program
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The Galileo spacecraft was a special robot sent into space by NASA. Its main job was to explore the giant planet Jupiter and its many moons. Galileo was launched in 1989 and reached Jupiter in 1995.
This amazing spacecraft had two main parts: an orbiter and a probe. The probe was designed to dive right into Jupiter's thick atmosphere. The orbiter stayed in space, circling Jupiter and studying it from above.
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What Was the Galileo Spacecraft?
The Galileo mission was named after Galileo Galilei. He was a famous scientist who discovered Jupiter's four largest moons. The spacecraft was built to learn more about Jupiter. It also studied its moons, especially Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto.
How Galileo Was Built
The Galileo spacecraft was quite heavy, weighing about 2,562 kilograms (5,650 pounds) at launch. It was made by several companies working together. These included the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and General Electric.
The orbiter part of Galileo carried many scientific tools. These tools helped it take pictures and gather data. The probe was smaller and carried instruments to measure Jupiter's atmosphere.
Powering the Journey
Galileo used a special kind of power source called a radioisotope thermoelectric generator (RTG). This allowed it to work far from the Sun. Solar panels would not have been strong enough at Jupiter's distance. The RTG created electricity from the heat of decaying radioactive material.
The Journey to Jupiter
Galileo began its long journey on October 18, 1989. It launched from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The spacecraft rode into space aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis (mission STS-34). After leaving the Shuttle, a special rocket stage called the Inertial Upper Stage pushed Galileo towards Jupiter.
The trip to Jupiter took about six years. Galileo traveled an incredible distance of over 4.6 billion kilometers (2.8 billion miles). Along the way, it flew past other planets and asteroids. These flybys helped Galileo gain speed using gravity assists.
Exploring Jupiter's Atmosphere
On July 13, 1995, the Galileo probe separated from the main orbiter. It then headed straight for Jupiter. On December 7, 1995, the probe plunged into Jupiter's atmosphere.
The probe gathered data for 57 minutes as it fell. It measured the temperature, pressure, and types of gases in Jupiter's atmosphere. The conditions inside Jupiter are extreme. The probe was eventually crushed by the immense pressure and heat.
Orbiting the Giant Planet
The orbiter part of Galileo entered orbit around Jupiter on December 8, 1995. It spent many years circling the planet. The orbiter studied Jupiter's clouds, storms, and magnetic field. It also made many close flybys of Jupiter's largest moons.
Discoveries at Jupiter's Moons
Galileo made some very important discoveries about Jupiter's moons:
- Europa: It found strong evidence of a salty ocean hidden under Europa's icy surface. This makes Europa a possible place for life to exist.
- Ganymede: Galileo discovered that Ganymede has its own magnetic field. This was the first time a moon was found to have one.
- Io: It observed many active volcanoes on Io. This showed that Io is the most volcanically active body in our solar system.
- Callisto: Galileo found that Callisto might also have a subsurface ocean.
The End of the Mission
After more than eight years orbiting Jupiter, Galileo's mission came to an end. On September 21, 2003, NASA decided to send the orbiter crashing into Jupiter. This was done to prevent any chance of the spacecraft accidentally hitting Europa. If Galileo had crashed into Europa, it might have contaminated its possible ocean with Earth microbes.
By sending Galileo into Jupiter, scientists made sure that any life on Europa would remain untouched. The spacecraft burned up in Jupiter's atmosphere, ending its long and successful mission.
Images for kids
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In the Vertical Processing Facility (VPF), Galileo is prepared for mating with the Inertial Upper Stage booster.
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Galileo's main components
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Propulsion module
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Solid-State Imager
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Near-Infrared Mapping Spectrometer
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Ultraviolet Spectrometer
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Dust Detector Subsystem
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Heavy Ion Counter
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Magnetometer
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Plasma Wave Subsystem
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Inner Descent Module of the Galileo Entry Probe
