Galileo Project
Journey to Jupiter Mission

Galileo Quick Facts

Galileo: Journey to Jupiter Mission: (this Galileo is not to be mistaken for the IMA Hero™ Galileo.) The Galileo spacecraft was named after Galileo Galilei and is currently exploring Jupiter and its 4 major moons.

This is a full-size Galileo spacecraft model on display in the von Kármán Visitors' Center. Where are all the visitors?

Here are the visitors looking at the full-size Galileo spacecraft model which is on display for the last year at JPL. Where's Galileo, the Bear?

Here's Galileo, the Bear, in front of Galileo, the spacecraft, along with his new friend and JPL engineer.

Galileo and his new friend had so much fun together so we added another picture to the Photo Gallery.

This scaled-model of the Galileo spacecraft (scale 1/25) allows the visitors to see what the complete spacecraft looks like as it orbits Jupiter.

The gold shell-shaped part in the upper left is a sun shield protecting the low-gain antenna. It did not completely open once it was in space. This model shows the sun shield flattened on one side to give an accurate image of the spacecraft (although it is difficult to see in this picture).

The long gold part in the right on the photo is a boom which has a plasma-wave antenna and magnetometer sensors. Its purpose is to allow these two items to operate away from the main spacecraft. View detailed drawing. But wait, something's missing?

Ahhh, that's better, a picture of Galileo with Galileo.

Top of Page

GALILEO: QUICK FACTS

Mission: to study Jupiter and its moons in more detail than any previous spacecraft

Launch: October 18, 1989, from Cape Canaveral, Florida, aboard Space Shuttle Atlantis. View more photos.

Jupiter: Jupiter is the largest of the nine planets in our solar system and is well known for its Great Red Spot. View more photos.

Jupiter's Moon: Jupiter has 61 known moons. The four largest moons are Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto.

Callisto 30: May 25, 2001, Galileo made its closest pass of Callisto -- just 86 miles above the icy surface.

How will it End: on September 21, 2003, its mission will end with a controlled impact into the crushing pressure of Jupiter's atmosphere.

Seven Spacecrafts have flown by Jupiter: They are Pioneer 10, Pioneer 11, Voyager 1, Voyager 2, Galileo, Ulysses, and Cassini.

Mission Home Page: Galileo: Journey to Jupiter.

JPL's Galileo Online Newsletter: Subscribe Here.

Top of Page