The Galileo Spacecraft was an unmanned space probe developed by NASA to study the planet Jupiter and its moons, particularly Europa, Io, Callisto, and Ganymede. Launched on October 18, 1989, from Space Shuttle Atlantis, Galileo's mission was significant as it was the first spacecraft to orbit Jupiter.
The Galileo spacecraft was launched via the Space Shuttle Atlantis during the STS-34 mission. It used a unique trajectory involving two Venus flybys, one Earth flyby, and an additional Earth flyby to gain the necessary velocity to reach Jupiter through gravity assist maneuvers.
Galileo carried a suite of instruments including:
After completing its primary mission, Galileo was extended for several years to continue its scientific observations. However, to prevent any potential contamination of Europa with Earth bacteria, the spacecraft was intentionally deorbited into Jupiter's atmosphere on September 21, 2003, where it disintegrated.
Galileo's discoveries have paved the way for subsequent missions to Jupiter, such as Juno and the upcoming Europa Clipper. Its data has significantly contributed to our understanding of the Jovian system and has implications for astrobiology and planetary science.