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The '''Galileo Project''' was a NASA mission of [[space exploration]] that involved sending a [[satellite]] to [[Jupiter]]. The mission was named after the famous astronomer [[Galileo Galilei]].

The '''Galileo Project''' was a NASA mission of [[space exploration]] that involved sending a [[satellite]] to [[Jupiter]]. The mission was named after the famous astronomer [[Galileo Galilei]].

== Launch ==

==Launch==

 

Galileo was launched from the shuttle Atlantis (OV-104) in October, 1989. It was launched using a small booster rocket with insufficient power to reach Jupiter, requiring the astronauts to "borrow" energy to send it to it's destination.

Galileo was launched from the shuttle Atlantis (OV-104) in October, 1989. It was launched using a small booster rocket with insufficient power to reach Jupiter, requiring the astronauts to "borrow" energy to send it to it's destination.

== Journey to Jupiter ==

==Journey to Jupiter==

 

Due to the lack of sufficient fuel to reach Jupiter, Galileo was given a flight plan nicknamed "VEEGA" for "Venus-Earth-Earth Gravity Assist.", where it would slingshot once around [[Venus]] and twice around [[Earth]] in order to reach Jupiter.

Due to the lack of sufficient fuel to reach Jupiter, Galileo was given a flight plan nicknamed "VEEGA" for "Venus-Earth-Earth Gravity Assist.", where it would slingshot once around [[Venus]] and twice around [[Earth]] in order to reach Jupiter.

== Arrival at Jupiter and [[probe]] launch ==

==Arrival at Jupiter and [[probe]] launch==

 

In July, 1995 the  Galileo spacecraft launched a probe  to begin a solo flight into Jupiter.

In July, 1995 the  Galileo spacecraft launched a probe  to begin a solo flight into Jupiter.

The intriguing data gathered during the eleven orbits of the prime mission left many questions to be answered. Since Galileo obviously was capable of much more, its mission was extended.

The intriguing data gathered during the eleven orbits of the prime mission left many questions to be answered. Since Galileo obviously was capable of much more, its mission was extended.

== Extended Tour ==

==Extended Tour==

Galileo's prime mission ended on December 7, 1997. With more to learn, and the spacecraft in good health, NASA approved a two-year study called "GEM" -- the Galileo Europa Mission. For fourteen more orbits, the spacecraft focused on ice, water, and fire: the icy moon Europa, which might have an ocean; Jupiter's thunderstorms; and the fiery volcanoes of Io.

Galileo's prime mission ended on December 7, 1997. With more to learn, and the spacecraft in good health, NASA approved a two-year study called "GEM" -- the Galileo Europa Mission. For fourteen more orbits, the spacecraft focused on ice, water, and fire: the icy moon Europa, which might have an ocean; Jupiter's thunderstorms; and the fiery volcanoes of Io.

These successful flybys led to another exciting mission - the Galileo Millennium Mission, extending into 2001. The data was collected on Io and Europa, and studies made of the effects of radiation on a spacecraft close in to Jupiter. The Cassini spacecraft, on its way to Saturn, swings by Jupiter in late 2000 and for a few weeks, both spacecraft observe the giant of our Solar System.

These successful flybys led to another exciting mission - the Galileo Millennium Mission, extending into 2001. The data was collected on Io and Europa, and studies made of the effects of radiation on a spacecraft close in to Jupiter. The Cassini spacecraft, on its way to Saturn, swings by Jupiter in late 2000 and for a few weeks, both spacecraft observe the giant of our Solar System.

== End of mission ==

==End of mission==

The Galileo spacecraft's 14-year odyssey came to an end on Sunday, Sept. 21, when the spacecraft passed into Jupiter's shadow then disintegrated in the planet's dense atmosphere at 11:57 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time. The Deep Space Network tracking station in Goldstone, Calif., received the last signal at 12:43:14 PDT. The delay is due to the time it takes for the signal to travel to Earth.

The Galileo spacecraft's 14-year odyssey came to an end on Sunday, Sept. 21, when the spacecraft passed into Jupiter's shadow then disintegrated in the planet's dense atmosphere at 11:57 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time. The Deep Space Network tracking station in Goldstone, Calif., received the last signal at 12:43:14 PDT. The delay is due to the time it takes for the signal to travel to Earth.