Missions and Programs
Galileo
Jupiter Orbiter Mission
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Galileo was an American robotic space probe, launched by NASA on October 18, 1989, that studied the planet Jupiter and its moons as well as the asteroids Gaspra and Ida. Consisting of an orbiter and an atmospheric entry probe, it arrived at Jupiter on December 7, 1995 after gravity assist flybys of Venus and Earth, and became the first spacecraft to orbit an outer planet.
Facts
OutcomeSuccessful Jupiter orbital mission; the spacecraft was intentionally destroyed in Jupiter's atmosphere on September 21, 2003 to prevent contamination of Jupiter's moons. 1 Sources
1. Wikipedia (space and spaceflight articles)
Wikimedia FoundationGalileo (spacecraft) article, lead sectionQuote, Galileo (spacecraft) article, lead section
became the first spacecraft to orbit an outer planet
1. Wikipedia (space and spaceflight articles)
Wikimedia FoundationGalileo (spacecraft) article, infoboxQuote, Galileo (spacecraft) article, infobox
intentionally destroyed in Jupiter's atmosphere on September 21, 2003 to prevent it from contaminating any of Jupiter's moons
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